PUP students stage walkout, ‘protest dance’; call for Aquino ouster

MANILA, Philippines – Hundreds of students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) walked out of their classes on Friday morning and “danced” in dissent of the government’s handling of the Mamasapano operation.

Led by the student council, the students marched inside the campus while carrying placards and signs calling for President Benigno Aquino III’s resignation.

Several of them also danced while wearing protest calls on their heads.

Jess Ferrera, president of the PUP Central Student Council, described the event as a show of solidarity of students who want Aquino to step down.

“Ang minumungkahi namin ay yung tinatawag na National Transition Council kung saan kukuha tayo ng pinakamabubuti, pinakamalilinis na pangalan sa iba’t ibang sektor at industriya na mangunguna sa pagbuo ng isang malinis at credible na eleksyon,” she told INQUIRER.net.

(We propose what is called the National Transition Council, which will be composed of good and clean names from various sectors and industries who will be able to ensure clean and credible elections.)

Students from PUP and other schools – University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, De La Salle University, University of Manila, Philippine Normal University, National Teachers College, and Miriam College – later joined protests in Mendiola.

Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of militant group Anakbayan, said they organized the protest to call for justice for the people killed – 44 policemen, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and at least five civilians – during the Mamasapano clash.

Aquino has been receiving flak for his involvement in the botched operation, especially after he was accused of allowing then suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima to direct the mission.