TACLOBAN CITY- A protest rally staged by the students from the University of the Philippines (UP) – Tacloban Campus turned violent as they were dispersed by an anti- riot unit of the city police here on the night of August 16.
The protesters, who just attended the 57th General Assembly of Student Councils here, held their rally at the old bus terminal here where a McDonald’s outlet is located.
The order reportedly issued by Col. Michael Palermo, the city police director.
The students were forced to scatter, extending their protest to Justice Romualdez Street in the city where RTR Plaza, considered as the city’s freedom park, is located.
A representative from the UP Mindanao Council was arrested, and another student fainted during the commotion, lying on the street. The students brought the victim to a city.
This incident marks the first mass action in the city since the arrest of the “Tacloban 5” four years ago.
UP students claimed that the Tacloban Police used excessive force, including batons, during the dispersal.
“We anticipated a dispersal, but we did not expect such a disproportionate use of force by the police, especially since it was a peaceful rally focused on issues directly affecting people’s livelihoods,” a student said.
The student leaders called for free, accessible, and quality education, emphasizing concerns about the expected budget cuts to the UP System under the 2025 National Expenditure Program of the Marcos Jr. administration.
They also demanded the release of three UP graduates, known as the “Tacloban 5,” who were allegedly illegally arrested in 2020 and remain imprisoned on trumped-up charges under the Anti-Terrorism Law.
Despite the valid issues raised by the students, the police were determined to file charges against them and pressured them to release the names of all student rally participants.
Kabataan Partylist Representative Raoul Manuel, one of the plenary speakers at the GASC, responded to the situation and called for the unconditional return of the students to the UP campus. He stated:
“I don’t know what the police are trying to prove, but we know that the NTF-ELCAC is extremely paranoid about young people expressing themselves, even on social media. They are so paranoid, and even more so when young people physically gather to bring their concerns, he said.
After an hour of negotiations with the police, the protesters were released on the condition that they refrain from participating in any political gatherings or encouraging others to rally. (JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
