For Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co, there was nothing performative in the halftime gig on Oct. 19 of the University of the Philippines (UP) Varsity Pep Squad and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Animo Squad in which they joined forces in assailing the massive corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects.

Co described the chants of “Ikulong na yan! Mga Kurakot!” that rang out from the two cheering squads at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City as a demonstration of young Filipinos “aggrieved” by billion-peso contracts involving nonexistent or substandard flood control projects.      

The two squads’ chants surprised but delighted the crowd of spectators, who ultimately took up the chorus demanding that those who stole taxpayer money be jailed. The squads performed at halftime of the UP-DLSU game that ended the first round of the UAAP (Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines) Season 88.

“It’s heartening that there is a unity point in these arenas,” Co said of the UP-DLSU anticorruption advocacy in a phone interview with CoverStory on Wednesday. 

She added: “It goes to show us that the momentum is here, and it needs to be sustained. This issue should not die down. There should be no piecemeal reforms, as if everything can go back to normal. There should be systemic change to address the people’s anger.”

Walkouts

Since the Sept. 21 “Trillion-Peso March” and “Baha sa Luneta” protest rallies at Edsa and Rizal Park, respectively, Co has been actively organizing youth demonstrations, including the Oct.17 mobilization dubbed as the National Day of Action of the Youth against Corruption. 

“I was part of it, and I’m very proud to be in this moment of history,” the lawmaker said of the mass action that saw students from colleges and universities in Quezon City, the University Belt, and other areas walking out of their classrooms in protest.

She said student organizations are preparing for another mass walkout in which first-timers are expected to participate. She described them as having little or no experience of demonstrating in the streets but now spurred by “strong agitation and willingness” to do so.

How would she describe the mood of the youth now since investigations in the Senate and the House of Representatives showed how the wholesale theft of public money was made possible by private contractors and their partners in crime in government offices? 

“The youth are incredibly agitated towards the stealing of not only taxpayer money but also their future,” Co said. She said the youth are “aggrieved” about how public money has been misused at the expense of the people who have to contend with deteriorating social services and high unemployment, among others. 

“It’s disillusioning, but rather than being demoralized, we are energized [by the knowledge] that if we all band together, we can elicit change,” she said.

The lawmaker said this explains why there is an “uptick of walkouts” by students who go into the streets to protest.

Starting from the “Black Friday Walkout” held late September by thousands of students of UP Diliman, protest walkouts have been staged by, among others, UP Manila and Los Banos, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, DLSU, University of Santo Tomas, San Beda University, St. Scholastica’s College, Technological University of the Philippines, University of the East, and other schools in the provinces. 

Co said the Kabataan party-list is helping organize young Filipinos for participation in the anticorruption movement, including a planned big mobilization on Oct. 31.

ICI investigation

Asked what she thought about the announced plan of the Malacanang-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to livestream its ongoing investigation of anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects, Co merely shrugged it off. She drew attention to the fact that the protest movement’s main core demands have yet to be attained: the prosecution of those behind the crime, the return of the money they stole, and the abolition of the pork barrel system. 

She also said she and her colleagues are “alarmed” and “appalled” by the statement of ICI special adviser Rodolfo Azurin: that the commission cannot yet identify any government official involved in the anomalous flood control projects. She pointed out that up to now, the ICI has not named names or come up with a formal report on its investigation.

Co had previously criticized the ICI for its “peak performative transparency,” as its hearings remain closed to the public.

Apart from livestreaming the ICI’s proceedings, what is needed is a substantive report as well as updates on the investigations that students and the youth, who are busy with school or work, can “digest,” the lawmaker said.

Co said it seems to her that the ICI is not there to uncover the truth but “to shield those in power.”

“If this is the direction, that nothing will happen [with the investigation], they should just pack their bags and save on taxpayer money,” she said.

Read more: The government’s flood control projects are a systemic failure