UP students demand apology from PNP, Iloilo LGU

ILOILO CITY—Students of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) have demanded a public apology from the Philippine National Police and the Iloilo City local government unit (LGU) over last week’s dispersal of a protest action against impending cuts in the budget of the state university.

In a joint statement, student councils in UPV campuses in Miag-ao town in Iloilo, Iloilo City and Tacloban City, also condemned the dispersal and arrest of two faculty members who were charged with illegal assembly and disobedience to lawful order complaints.

Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas, commander of the Site Sub-Task Group on Peace and Order for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings in Iloilo, said they were ready to face any charges because the policemen were just implementing ordinances and laws.

“We care for the students and teachers. We did not want to harm them but we have to ensure that our processes in holding rallies are followed. They were allowed to go home,” Salinas told the Inquirer.

He said they were lenient in two previous protests during Apec meetings but had to arrest their leaders because the rally was held without a permit.

He said it was “lamentable” that UPV students and officials were condemning the policemen who were only implementing the law and following orders.

“There should be no discord among Ilonggos especially that we are hosting the Apec meetings. We can discuss these things,” Salinas said.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said he saw no reason for the city government to apologize pointing out that the protesters did not have a permit. He said rallies were allowed at the city-designated “freedom park” at the La Paz District public plaza.

He said the hosting of the meetings including security measures were being undertaken and supervised by the Apec national organizing committee.

“They implemented the no-permit-no-rally policy,” Mabilog told the Inquirer.

The students questioned the use of hundreds of policemen in full antiriot gear to confront and disperse the students.

“What was the crime of the students to deserve a battalion of police officers to stop them?” the statement said.

The statement was issued by chairs of the University Student Council and student councils of the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Technology, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, College of Management and Tacloban College.

Police officials earlier said the protest rally was dispersed for lack of permit and because the protesters were already obstructing traffic.