Ateneo de Davao expressed support for student press freedom amid 'difficult discussions'

The Ateneo de Davao University on Wednesday expressed support for student press freedom while calling for the community to engage in "discourse with wisdom, courage, and above all, kindness."

“At Ateneo de Davao University, we uphold student press freedom as a fundamental pillar of academic discourse and democratic engagement. However, with this freedom comes the responsibility to engage in respectful and ethical dialogue,” Fr. Karel San Juan SJ, Ateneo de Davao University president, said in a statement.

“While we encourage critical thinking and fearless journalism, we do not condone bullying, harassment, or red-tagging—especially when directed at our students. These actions have no place in a community dedicated to truth, justice, and intellectual integrity,” he added.

San Juan did not specify the details behind the statement, he hinted on heated exchanges within the community.

"Difficult conversations unsettle us, but they ignite growth, sharpen understanding, and demand that we confront today’s complex realities. Yet, we remain steadfast in our mission — to form leaders who think critically, question boldly, and serve with compassion," he said.

Earlier, the Ateneo Publications Alliance — composed of Atenews, The BEACON, The Crusader, The GUIDON, and ThePILLARS — issued a statement on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

said “justice is now being served” as “the ICC is finally setting the stage for his conviction for all human rights violations, brutal killings, and grave injustices he committed.”

“The alliance welcomes the developments in the efforts to hold those who were responsible for the bloody drug war and other human rights violations,” the alliance said.

“Now, the call for student publications to use their platforms to amplify the discourse, shed light on the atrocities committed, and build alternatives towards genuine justices must become louder than ever,” it added.

The Facebook post of the joint statement drew flak as some netizens expressed disagreement and disappointment.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for the elder Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity, paving the way for his arrest on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

From there, he was taken to Villamor Airbase and later boarded a plane that took off late Tuesday evening for the Netherlands, where the ICC is located. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News