Student groups hold protest action at UST to denounce ‘poll cheating’

MANILA, Philippines — Student groups from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) staged a protest action inside the campus on Friday condemning the results of the 2019 mid-term polls.

Members of the left-wing group Anakbayan-UST and the League of Filipino Students (LFS) rallied inside and outside the premises of UST on España Boulevard, Manila.

According to a tweet from The Varsitarian, UST’s official student publication, the protest was to denounce alleged anomalies in the mid-term elections, and the suspension on freshman Hannah Rondilla over her participation in an anti-fascist group.

LOOK: Students hold silent protest inside the University to denounce alleged anomalies in the recent midterm elections and the reported suspension of a Thomasian activist for joining an unrecognized organization. pic.twitter.com/ITSuBunPQl

— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) May 17, 2019

Tweets from Anakbayan-UST also showed members marching toward Morayta street.

Rallyists were expected to proceed to the Philippine International Convention Center where the Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as National Board of Canvassers, is tallying votes.

Kasalukuyan ng nasa Morayta ang
mga iba't ibang progresibong grupo upang kundenahin ang pandarayang nangyari noong eleksyon.#LabanBayan pic.twitter.com/w0s4AYO63V

— Anakbayan UST (@AnakbayanUST) May 17, 2019

A day before the protest, LFS-UST said in a Facebook post Thursday to blame President Rodrigo Duterte for the outcome of the elections.

https://www.facebook.com/lfsuste/photos/a.391754841023721/1054070331458832/?type=3&theater

“Ang pandaraya ni Duterte sa nakaraang halalan ay marka na desperado na siyang monopolyohin ang kapangyarihan sa kanyang mga kamay dahil hindi na maitatangging sawang-sawa na ang mga Pilipino sa kanyang pasistang administrasyon na anti-mahihirap anti-mamamayan,” the group said. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)