Youth and student leaders announced on November 8 the establishment of Youth Rage Against Corruption (YRAC), a broad youth anti-corruption alliance. The alliance was borne out of the wide participation of youth and students in the walkout movement since September, the massive people’s protest at Luneta Park on September 21, and the march of thousands of youth in Mendiola on October 17.

The youth decisively formed the alliance to strengthen their unity and raise to a higher level their demand for accountability from the Marcos regime for rampant corruption in government. The alliance’s launching already included more than 50 councils, organizations, and formations.

Leading the alliance will include the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Central Student Council (PUP SKM) and Rise Against Corruption and Tyranny, University of the Philippines-Diliman University Student Council and UP Act Against Corruption, Lasallians Against Corruption and One Taft, Ateneo de Manila University Sanggunian and One Katipunan, Barangay UP Campus Sangguniang Kabataan and Quezon City SK for Good Governance, Hip-hop United Against Corruption, Health Students for People’s Health, Alliance of Environmentalists and STEM Students for Good Governance, and Anakbayan.

YRAC united on the goal of fighting corruption, fascism, and neglect in education and defending the future of the youth. Their militant call: “Change the rotten system! Remove Marcos-Duterte!”

Student leaders said their outrage intensified for not having anyone jailed or held accountable after more than 100 days since the Marcos regime began its “investigations” on corruption in flood control projects. They also said the call for justice is growing amid successive disasters and typhoons hitting the country, which worsen the effects of rampant corruption.

“Marcos Jr should expect more youth from various parts of the country to join the struggle courageously as long as the government thieves’ pockets continue to swell,” PUP SKM president JP Azusano said.

They also condemned the fascist repression and harassment of youth by Marcos’ soldiers and police to silence their movement. The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have subpoenaed four student leaders for “investigation” into their leadership and involvement in youth anti-corruption protests.

“It is clear to us why our central call is to hold accountable Marcos and Duterte, the king and queen of corruption. They represent the worst form of bureaucrat capitalism, a system that turns governance into a business where power serves not the people’s welfare but the enrichment of an elite,” Anakbayan chairperson Mhing Gomez said.

To hold the Marcoses, Dutertes, and bureaucrat-capitalists accountable, the alliance declared that youth and students will relaunch a nationwide walkout on November 17, International Students Day. They will also join the people’s protest against corruption on November 30 at Luneta Park led by the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KBKK or People’s Movement Against Corruption). KBKK’s call: “Hold all involved accountable!”

YRAC expects its alliance to expand further in the coming days, since more than 40,000 students have already joined the anti-corruption walkout movement nationwide.