The cheer squad of Ateneo de Manila University drew attention for a pointed political statement during halftime of a men’s basketball game against the University of the Philippines at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, October 8.
Performing at the UAAP Season 88 match’s halftime, the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion, wearing shirts that spelled out the text, “KURAKOT IKULONG,” circulated online as its members called for accountability in the current flood control corruption mess plaguing the country.
Images and clips of the performance quickly circulated online, with many lauding the group’s boldness.
“Sports are political!!!!!” an X user wrote. The post has earned 9,000 likes and 1,500 reposts.
sports are political!!!!! pic.twitter.com/CBYBY7gGUG
— a (@lakershabit) October 8, 2025
It was also posted in the “r/Philippines,” where some users lauded the initiative.
“KURAKOT IKULONG”: Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion call for accountability at the Ateneo-UP game
byu/getgreened inPhilippines
“More of these, please. Kurakot, ikulong!!!!” a Redditor exclaimed.
“Manatili ang galit. Manatili ang ingay. Walang makakalimot,” another user commented.
“Yesssss!” wrote a different Redditor.
The Blue Babble Battalion’s statement follows a tradition of political expression. In 2017, the team unfurled a banner reading “Stop the extrajudicial killings and uphold human rights” during a game, protesting then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs.”
The flood control corruption mess
The cheer squad’s message comes as the government investigates alleged kickback schemes in the country’s multibillion-peso flood control projects.
Personalities like former house speaker Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, and Sens. Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva, are some of those who have been alleged to be linked with the corruption.
Allegations include “ghost projects,” which are infrastructure projects that were either nonexistent or reported as “complete” but did not exist, with their funds being allocated elsewhere.
There have also been reports of suitcases of cash being delivered to the residences of some politicians linked to the kickback scheme.
RELATED: ‘Sila dapat itapon’: Filipinos fume over code word ‘basura’ for flood kickbacks | ‘Pure evil’: Outrage flares as photos show alleged kickbacks in flood control projects
