21/09/2025
Progressive Groups in Quezon Joins Luneta and Mendiola Protests to Denounce Corruption, Militarization, and Exploitation Under Marcos Jr.
QUEZON PROVINCE – Today, residents of Quezon joined the nationwide protests at Luneta in Manila to condemn widespread corruption, militarization, and exploitation under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., drawing parallels to the abuses of his father’s dictatorship.
According to Makabayan Quezon, the province continues to experience deep social and economic problems rooted in long-standing semi-feudal and bureaucrat-capitalist systems.
Farmers and laborers earn between 425 and 540 pesos a day, far below the family living wage. Access to clean water is limited in many communities due to privatization primarily by Primewater, and farm to market roads, bridges, and infrastructure remain poorly maintained or unfinished. Public funds are increasingly spent on militarization and corporate-backed projects rather than programs that directly benefit the people.
Flood-control and infrastructure projects in Quezon have also become a focus of concern. Since 2022, over ₱6 billion has been allocated to flood-control initiatives, many of which are reportedly plagued by overpricing, irregular bidding, and mismanagement. Instead of preventing flooding and improving public safety, these projects are said to largely benefit corporations, contractors, and political allies, leaving ordinary communities vulnerable and neglected.
Military operations in rural areas continue to affect local communities. Soldiers and police regularly occupy barangay halls, set up checkpoints, and monitor residents. Farmers are sometimes blocked from accessing their own lands, and community leaders speaking out against injustice face harassment or detention. Makabayan Quezon says these actions protect landlord and corporate interests rather than the people.
Large-scale development projects such as mining, quarrying, energy, and industrial initiatives continue to threaten farmlands, water sources, and livelihoods. Projects often proceed without consultation, displacing families and harming the environment. These practices, the group notes, reflect the same patterns established under Marcos Sr.’s Martial Law, when public funds were diverted to elites, dissent was crushed, and semi-feudal and bureaucrat-capitalist structures were strengthened.
Makabayan Quezon calls on farmers, workers, youth, and communities to organize, unite, and take collective action to defend their land, livelihoods, and resources. The group emphasizes that genuine change requires challenging the system of corruption, militarization, and exploitation, not just removing a single leader.
“Only by organizing together, supporting each other, and taking collective action can communities reclaim control over their land, resources, and future,” the statement reads. “We must make sure society works for the majority, not just for a few elites.” - Makabayan Quezon said in a statement.
