Handle chat scandal with ‘highest standards of justice, human dignity’, UST told

MANILA, Philippines—The University of Sto. Tomas (UST) must ensure that the professor and students tagged in the alleged illegal sharing of women’s private photos and videos are handled in the “highest standards of justice” and with “human dignity in mind.”

This, according to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), will demonstrate that “human rights are everyone’s concern – (and) not of only those involved in violations.”

CHR issued the statement Friday after a group chat leaked and became viral on Twitter where an anonymous netizen shared screenshots of the exchange containing private photos and videos of women from different universities in Metro Manila.

The students involved were identified as UST students as their names were publicly posted in the screenshots. Meanwhile, another netizen positively identified the professor as a teacher in the faculty of engineering.

READ: UST Eng’g probes viral scandal involving students, professor

“Schools and universities are expected to help shape (the) values of their students, alongside parents and guardians,” CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann De Guia said, adding that “it is in the best interest of the children to be able to correct actions early” particularly those who disrespect and devalue others’ rights.

However, those who can be made accountable before the laws should be tried for the alleged wrongdoing, the CHR official noted.

“In this way, we demonstrate that human rights are everyone’s concern – not of only those involved in violations,” De Guia said. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)