KABACAN, North Cotabato – After two weeks of delayed school opening and almost six months of protests over allegations of graft and corruption, classes at the state-run University of Southern Mindanao finally kicked off on Monday.
The problem was partially solved when protesters, calling themselves Oust (USM President Dr. Antonio) Derije Movement, agreed to open the gates and put a halt to their daily protests which, on many occasions turned violent.
Rep. Nancy Catamco (2nd District, North Cotabato), initiated the dialogue between protesters and USM administration.
The protesters wanted Derije, who was reappointed by the USM Board of Regents last January, out because of charges of corruption, mismanagement, among others filed before the Sandiganbayan. While the cases were pending, the protesters vowed daily protests that disrupted classes since January.
Derije has repeatedly appealed to protesters, led by Dr. Alemin Sencil, to allow students to attend classes but his appeal fell on deaf ears as protesters became unruly. At one point, six policemen were hurt during a violent confrontation.
Derije insisted he remained innocent of the charges against him until proven otherwise.
According to Derije, protesters were joined by outsiders to swell their number.
Derije agreed to Catamco’s proposal for him to take leave of absence, for the second time.
Catamco said Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Patricia Licuanan had appointed Lawyer Christopher Cabilen as USM caretaker. Cabilen is Catamco’s legal counsel.
Policemen have been deployed around the campus to ensure normal opening of classes.
For the past six months, North Cotabato political leaders failed to resolve the USM problem, which some professors described as “mob rule” as protesters became violent.
Derije repeatedly said that while he recognized the rights of protesters to peacefully assemble and air grievances, he also has Constitutional rights and to continue serving as duly and legally appointed USM president.