By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr
QUEZON CITY — A new youth-led coalition called Youth Against Kurakot (Yak!) Gawing Kadiri ang Korapsyon was launched on Wednesday (Sept. 3) here at Max’s Restaurant in Quezon City Circle to lead the fight and campaign against corruption in the face of the alleged anomalous and ghosts flood control projects amounting to billions of pesos in public funds.
In a press conference, Yak! Co-Convenor and Akbayan Secretary General Khylia Meneses said “Corruption should make us cringe, not shrug. We, the youth, are here to make sure that greed and abuse of power are met with outrage, not silence or indifference.”
“Hindi tayo dapat masanay na ginagawang bottomless ATM ang kaban ng bayan para gastusan ang luho ng mga kurakot,” Meneses added.
The Yak! was launched to unite young people and student organizations in the fight against corruption and reclaim it as both morally repulsive and politically indefensible.
It seeks to end the cycle of corruption by raising awareness among the youth that corrupt practices should never be normalized, mobilizing them to reject politicians who betray public trust, and committing as citizen monitors to ensure that government funds are spent for the needs of the people.
The youth coalition emphasized that today’s culture of impunity can be traced back to the Duterte administration, when he appeared untouchable despite grave violations of the law and the 1987 Constitution, emboldening politicians to act with the same brazenness in their corruption.
They also lobbied for reforms such as the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, SALN Disclosure Bill, and Open Bicam Resolution to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
They shouted “Korapsyon Kadiri. Kadiri. Kadiri. Korapsyon Kadiri. Kurakot Panagutin. Ghost Project Palabasin. Kurakot Panagutin!”
The launch brought together youth organizations such as Akbayan Youth, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), Liberal Youth, Kilos Ko Youth, Kaya Natin Youth, Bulakenyo for Good Governance, UP Alyansa, and PANTAY, along with many student councils nationwide.
The coalition was joined by governance champions: Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña, former COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, and Akbayan Party President Rafaela David, who expressed their support for this broad youth initiative to make corruption socially unacceptable and politically indefensible.
Rep. Cendana welcomed the public outrage against the massive corruption surrounding DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) flood control projects, urging citizens, especially the Filipino youth, to step up the pressure on the government to ensure that the anti-corruption investigations are comprehensive.
“Magandang panimula yung outrage na pinakikita ng mga mamamayan sa lantarang pangungurakot ng mga dorobong contractors at public officials na kasabwat nila. But online anger should translate to public and civic action,” Cendana said.
“More pressure and more protests alongside active civic engagement are needed. Kita naman natin na saka lang umaksyon ang concerned government bodies kung kailan tumindi ang pambabatikos,” Cendana added.
The coalition also announced that they will push for Anti-Corruption Bill to protect taxpayers’ money, organize a Ghost (Project) Hunting Field Trip to encourage young people to actively monitor government projects for red flags, and rally to the streets to hound the government for accountability and transparency. ###
