TACLOBAN (UCAN): Rights groups have expressed concern over the violent dispersal of an August 16 protest by students from the University of the Philippines campus in Tacloban, Leyte, the Philippines, who were up in arms against what they say is the militarisation of state-run campuses.
“What police did to the students was unacceptable. The police should facilitate a peaceful protest,” said Amnesty International Philippines on August 19.
“The violent dispersal curtails students’ rights to assemble peacefully and air their grievances. It may just be the beginning of heightened repression in campuses of the University of Philippines across the country,” Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of Philippine-based rights group Karapatan, said on August 19.
University president, Angelo Jimenez, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines inked a pact on August 8, dubbed the “Declaration of Cooperation,” paving the way for research and studies with the armed forces.
However, students from the 57th General Assembly of Student Councils from various campuses assembled at the Tacloban campus to call for an end to what they said was the “intense militarisation” of state-run colleges.
The violent dispersal curtails students’ rights to assemble peacefully and air their grievances. It may just be the beginning of heightened repression in campuses of the University of Philippines across the country
Cristina Palabay
They also demanded the junking of the country’s anti-terror law in the and an increase in monetary allocations for state-run colleges.
Their placards were confiscated while others were threatened with arrest. The Tacloban City Police said they adhered to the principle of maximum tolerance, exercising the highest degree of restraint while dealing with protesting students.
“Despite these efforts, some participants became confrontational, blocking traffic and shouting at police officers,” Tacloban police chief, Colonel Michael Palermo, said saying that there were no reports of injuries or excessive force.
The University of the Philippines has eight constituent universities and one autonomous college.
Its alumni include a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, seven of 17 Philippine presidents, 14 of 26 chief justices, 36 of 42 national scientists, and 40 of 57 national artists.
