THE MAKABAYAN bloc has filed a House resolution seeking a legislative inquiry into alleged restrictions on student activism and violations of students’ rights to freedom of expression, citing the disciplinary sanctions imposed on four student activists of UST.
House Resolution No. 1512, filed on Tuesday, Oct. 6, by Kabataan partylist Rep. Renee Co, Gabriela Women’s partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago and ACT Teachers partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, called for an investigation into cases of alleged student repression and its “alarming escalation.”
The resolution cited the sanctions imposed on four students by the UST Office for Student Affairs’ decision following a protest against a Philippine Air Force (PAF) exhibit on campus in April. The students were identified as Philosophy senior Raven Kristine Racelis, Behavioral Science junior Ralph Christian Manuel, Architecture senior Mecaella Sean Carl Capalar and Biochemistry freshman Dex Anderson Frogoso.
“WHEREAS, these 11 cases are representative of a longer list of student repression in schools and universities and establish the alarming pattern of escalating threat of violence and repression against students rooted from their fight against corruption,” the resolution read.
On Oct. 8, the University released separate suspensions on the four students, with Racelis receiving a 10-day suspension, Manuel eight days, Capalar five days and Frogoso four days.
The students were also refused the release of their good moral character certificates, while Capalar was ordered to be removed as Central Student Council public relations officer.
According to the resolutions, the sanctions stemmed from violations of UST’s rules of conduct, which require students to uphold Thomasian values and respect UST’s catholic identity. It said that while students may exercise their constitutional rights, they remain bound by the policies of the University.
The suspended students are consulting legal counsel on a possible appeal and plan to bring the matter before the Commission on Higher Education, Racelis previously told The Flame.
Racelis criticized the sanctions, saying they could discourage other students from speaking out. Manuel and Frogoso likewise questioned the University’s disciplinary proceedings, describing the case conferences as “one-sided.”
READ: Suspended Thomasian activists to appeal UST sanctions over Air Force exhibit protest
In the House resolution, the Makabayan lawmakers questioned the disciplinary proceedings, alleging that it relied mainly on the PAF’s incident report and gave greater deference to the military contingent’s account.
The resolution also pointed to 10 other cases involving students and youth leaders from universities across the country, including allegations of surveillance, red-baiting, campus restrictions and disciplinary action linked to protests and other social issues. F
