UST students protest dismissal of Grade 12 student

MANILA, Philippines — Activist-students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) denounced the unfair dismissal of a senior high school student for allegedly violating the school’s code of conduct.

On Thursday, members of the League of Filipino Students-UST (LFS-UST) held a protest to call for the protection of the democratic rights of all students, specifically Grade 12 student Datu Ampatuan Jr.

Ampatuan was dismissed from school and from his post as head councilor of UST Senior High School Student Council.

He will not be readmitted after this school year for joining Anakbayan-UST and for his posts calling for academic break, said Trisha Ifurung, head of LFS-UST.

The university said Ampatuan violated the school’s code of conduct, which only allowed students to join organizations “whose objectives uphold the mission and vision of the university” and “are duly recognized by the university.” —Jodee A. Agoncillo