MANILA, Philippines—Heads of the flood-prone University of Santo Tomas (UST) campus have condemned the “corruption and anomalies” in the flood control projects.
In a statement on Wednesday, the university said that the scandal is a “betrayal of public trust, a deep injustice to the poor and a theft from those most in need.”
“Floods continue to threaten our communities. But worse than rising waters is the rising greed of those entrusted to protect us,” UST said. “At UST, we understand the pain of flooding. We’ve experienced it on our campus: Disrupting classes, risking health and challenging our resilience. But let us be clear: Filipino resilience should never be used as an excuse for corruption. It should not hide the misuse of public funds or justify injustice,” the university added.
“Investigations must be swift, independent, and fair and those responsible must be held fully accountable, no matter what their position or influence is. We must protect and rally behind those who courageously speak the truth, and restore integrity in governance and public service,” the university said.
“Throughout history, UST has always stood for truth. Today we stand again, calling on all Thomasians and all Filipinos to stay vigilant, speak out, and act with integrity. With faith and resolve, let us build a generation that says no to corruption and expects honesty, accountability, and true service from those in power,” it added.
