PUP students decry red-tagging, to continue pro-rights campaign

Red-tagging, campus militarization, proposal to increase national budget for education, random drug testing are among the issues raised by a student-official from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

In a statement, PUP Student Regent Ron Cervantes said the students are not surprised by the recent statements of President Rodrigo Duterte against them.

"Ang pagbabanta na ito ay di na bago dahil isa ang PUP sa nangunguna sa pagkundena ng mga anti-estudyante at anti-mamamayang mga polisiya na pinapataw ng gobyerno," he said.

Duterte issued a warning on Wednesday to PUP students amid reports of communist recruitment in schools.

Duterte also talked about the potential consequences of joining the communist rebels seeking to overthrow the government.

“You want something of an adventure and be killed in the process, you want your young mind to be swayed to the world of violence, iwanan mo ang pamilya mo, go ahead. Go ahead,” Duterte told reporters in Malacañang.

Duterte also vetoed the the consolidated Senate and House bill granting PUP national polytechnic university status.

"While I recognize the noble objective of the measure to promote, foster, nurture, and protect the right of all citizens to accessible quality education, I have serious reservations on the suitability of the means chosen to attain this end, namely, granting the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) the status of a national polytechnic university, with all the benefits and privileges such status entails," Duterte wrote.

Cervantes noted that the Commission on Higher Education has issued a memorandum on Mandatory Drug Testing.

"Nagdulot ito ng matinding hysteria sa mga estudyante dahil kasabay nito ang pagsulpot ng kapulisan sa loob ng PUP na taliwas sa Prudente-Ramos accord na pinagbabawalan ang pagpasok ng mga pulis sa loob ng aming pamantasan," he said.

He also noted the lack of budget for State Universities and Colleges.

"Dagdag pa dito, tila paraan narin ng estado ang pagpapahirap sa mga State Universities and Colleges, hindi lamang sa PUP ang pagtapyas ng malaki sa budget nito para sa RA 10931 o Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act," he said.

"Sa kabila ng negligence ni Duterte sa responsibility ng gobyerno para quality and free education for all, we highly condemn ang napakataas na funding para sa state fascism. Ang redtagging na ginagawa ng pangulo ay jinajusttify lamang ang campus militarization sa loob ng PUP," he added.

With these developments, Cervantes said PUP students will continue their call on officials to increase the national budget for education.

"Kaya hindi titigil ang mga iskolar ng bayan na tumindig at kalampagin ang gobyerno para sa mas mataas na budget sa edukasyon at pagpapabasura sa mga pasistang atake sa mga unibersidad hindi lamang sa PUP," he added. — BAP, GMA News