Thousands of students from private universities in Metro Manila and other cities participated in a walkout movement against corruption under the Marcos regime in recent weeks. Demonstrations were held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Far Eastern University (FEU), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), and others.

At UST, over 1,500 students, teachers, staff, and church people walked out and marched inside its campus in Manila on the afternoon of September 29. The UST Central Student Council (CSC) called and led the Tomasinos’ protest. The last walkout and widespread protest at UST was held back in 2001 over opposition to the fascist Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and the related death of a fellow student.

The movement received broad support from student councils in colleges and senior high schools, and student organizations. The Organization of United Employees of UST (ONE UST) also expressed support for the protest.

UST community often suffer from severe flooding caused by rotten flood control projects, now a center of corruption.

The UST CSC said the fight against corruption cannot wait. “This moment is not just part of our journey, it is our conscience calling, a chance to raise our voices loud and clear for truth, justice, and real change,” the council stated.

The council added the students’ walkout goes beyond just leaving classrooms; it declared they will no longer be silenced. “Every step resounds with the cry of our people, demanding that the voice of many must be heard,” it said.

Leading the walkout included progressive groups inside UST. Anakbayan-UST considered the students’ expansive participation in the demonstration historic. Concluding the action, the group emphasized the challenge and call to students remained: “Patriotic Tomasino, the fight is not over! Hold all corrupt accountable, starting from the top!”

Additionally, the group called for solidarity with those killed, arrested, and abused by police during the September 21 Mendiola action.

At FEU’s Morayta campus, around 1,000 individuals joined the walkout on the morning of September 29. Led by progressive groups and the FEU Central Student Organization (FEUCSO), the demonstration gained wide support.

The council said the Tamaraws (FEU students) held their last major walkout in the 1990s. “The last time FEU students walked out was during the 90s. We’ve had the chance to look back on our history. 3000 students walked out at that time. But this is the first time that our generation attempted to stage this walkout,” FEUCSO President Raezon Gonzales said in a Manila Today interview.

Besides corruption, the council and progressive groups campaigned on local issues faced by the campus, including pushing for full face-to-face classes and opposing tuition fee hikes.

At ADMU, over 2,000 individuals participated in the walkout and protest at its Quezon City campus on September 19. Participants and mobilizers included the League of Filipino Students (LFS)-Katipunan, Kabataan Partylist-Katipunan, One Big Fight for Human Rights and Democracy (OBFHRD), student councils, and others.

“Our fight as Atenistas should not end here but blaze on for stronger and more radical calls for national democracy,” LFS-Katipunan stated. The group said corrupt officials in government deserve to be ousted and the system that abuses and oppresses Filipinos should be dismantled.

“In the face of grand larceny and the organized crime of corruption, we too must organize, co-educate, and learn from the struggles of those most deeply affected by systematic plunder,” said OBFHRD.

On September 23, Ateneo de Davao University, also took action. Around 1,000 students, teachers, and staff joined the walkout called by the Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Davao and other organizations and university offices. The group Blue Knights for Human Rights (BKHR) joined the protest.

In Baguio City, hundreds of Saint Louis University (SLU) students walked out on September 20. Progressive organizations and campus alliances led the action. They demanded accountability from the Marcos regime amid exposed corruption and for justice from the Dutertes for crimes against the people.

Groups at the protest also called on the SLU administration to address the Tuition and Other Fees Increase (TOFI) and enrollment difficulties. DASIG chair and Walang Iwanan Louisian Network member Ralph Lauren Lagamia said the attendance of hundreds at the protest was “a clear expression that enough is enough, it is time to act against whatever anomalies happen now.”

“Students from our campus show solidarity by walking out of their classes. Many had quizzes but joined the walkout. Some professors even encouraged students to attend,” Lagamia added.

Various types of actions, protests, and activities also happened in recent weeks at Adamson University, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica’s College Manila, St. Paul University Manila under One Taft Alliance, Our Lady of Fatima University-Antipolo, University of San Carlos in Cebu, Xavier University, and other private schools and universities.

Meanwhile, students also held widespread walkouts against corruption in state universities and colleges and other public universities in the Philippines. These included the University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Bulacan State University, Tarlac State University, Cavite State University, Southern Luzon State University, Bicol University, Leyte Normal University, Visayas State University, Davao Oriental State University, Mindanao State University, and others.