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Bestlink College says viral field trip claims were ‘fabricated’


Bestlink College of the Philippines said reports of students being forced to walk hours during a field trip in Hermosa, Bataan were “fabricated.”

According to a 24 Oras report Wednesday, a statement from the school claimed details publicized during the event were misinformation intended to damage its reputation.

“We strongly feel that this misinformation [or] disinformation was deliberately made by some quarters, with the intent to publicly tarnish the good image and reputation of our esteemed institution,” read the statement.

The college said it is open for an independent fact-finding investigation to be conducted by the local government of Hermosa, Bataan.

Bestlink College added it is looking into the possible cause of the incident and sympathized with the students.

“We wish to emphasize that the administrators have always put utmost priority and consideration to the safety and welfare of the students before, during, and after the event,” the statement read.

“We fully sympathize with the students for what they went through, and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this event may have caused not only to our students and their families, but also to the residents of Punta Belle, Hermosa Bataan,” it continued.

The said incident occurred on January 26 after students of the said school on a field trip claimed they were made to walk almost 4 hours along a highway during their field trip due to alleged issues with their chartered buses.

Some students compared the experience to the Bataan Death March, saying they were forced to walk hungry, thirsty and in extreme levels of fatigue.

The incident is the latest episode of an unfortunate field trip. Bestlink College was involved in a controversy in 2017, when at least 15 people were killed when one of their buses figured in an accident in Tanay, Rizal. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News