Student-youths picketed in front of Philippine National Police (PNP) Camp Crame headquarters in Quezon City on October 27 to condemn its harassment of youth leaders. They specifically denounced the PNP’s issuance of subpoenas to four student leaders to subject them to an “investigation” related to their alleged leadership and involvement in anti-corruption protests, especially those held on September 21.
At the end of a program in front of the PNP headquarters, the group tore and burned the symbolic subpoenas sent by the PNP to their leaders.
The PNP and the Marcos regime targeted University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman University Student Council Chairperson Joaquin Buenaflor, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Central Student Council President Tiffany Brillante, Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag PUP Chairperson Jacob Baluyot, and Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon organizer and De La Salle College of St. Benilde student Aldrin Kitsune.
The youth said the PNP and the Marcos regime committed a serious mistake in punishing those who fight against rampant corruption in government. “Marcos Jr’s corrupt government prioritizes holding accountable those who resist corruption instead of jailing the corrupt,” Anakbayan said.
The group stated that this harassment proves that the youth cannot expect to end corruption in the same government that allows it. “Accountability will never prevail as long as the government remains beholden to the elite and not to the people,” they added.
Amid repression, Anakbayan bravely declared that the Marcos regime is mistaken for thinking that the youth will be intimidated. “It only strengthens the youth’s conviction that the system is rotten,” the group added.
The four student leaders refused to appear before and submit to the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group “investigation.” They submitted their response to the police subpoenas with the help of progressive lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers and other groups.
Anakbayan reiterated its call on fellow youth to unite with the people and continue joining mass protests to hold corrupt officials accountable. They emphasize pushing to remove Marcos, Duterte, and all corrupt government officials from office.
Anakbayan and the councils and groups led by the four student leaders being harassed by the Marcos regime are part of the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK or People’s Movement Against Corruption). The broad network spearheaded the massive protest at Luneta Park on September 21 dubbed the Flood in Luneta. KBKK is set to hold another large protest action on November 30.
