UST, FEU students stage walkout to protest vs widespread corruption in gov't

Undeterred by the heavy downpour, thousands of students from the University of Santo Tomas and the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila walked out of their classes on Monday, Sept. 29, to protest against the widespread corruption in government.

- By DIANN CALUCIN and PATRICK GARCIA

The FEU students participated in the “Tamaraws, Unite! Walkout For Our Rights!” protest along Nicanor Reyes Street in Manila.

In a statement, various University Student Organizations (USOs) and UST labor groups said students joined the walkout protest at 3 p.m. and gathered at the Arch of the Centuries at 4 p.m. to demand for accountability for the rampant corruption, particularly in flood control projects and other infrastructure projects.

The protest began gathering momentum as early as late morning, with the crowd swelling in front of FEU Gate 4 by 11:54 a.m.

Students braved the rain with umbrellas, banners, and chants as they aired their frustrations and demands toward the university administration and the national government.