Students of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) in Davao City and Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) in Mati City, Davao Oriental staged consecutive walkouts and protests last week to denounce the widespread corruption in government that continues to be exposed. Their actions were part of the surge of walkouts and protests in universities this September.
On September 23, around 1,000 students, teachers, and staff of AdDU joined the walkout organized by the Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Davao and various organizations and university offices. The group Blue Knights for Human Rights (BKHR) also joined the protest.
Speeches were delivered at the program by the student council president, the campus publication Atenews editor-in-chief, and other youth leaders. The university president and faculty representatives also joined the protest and delivered speeches.
The students successfully held their action a few days after the anti-youth and anti-people National Task Force-Elcac spearheaded a forum in the campus. The Armed Forces of the Philippines Eastern Mindanao Command officials and personnel from the fake group of “former rebels” called Kalinaw Southeastern Mindanao entered the campus for the said forum.
As its practice, state forces did nothing but disseminate lies and engage in red-tagging. They blatantly accused Atenews as a Communist Party of the Philippines propaganda platform.
On September 26, the campus publication Ang Sidlakan led a protest action of students, faculty, and staff at DOrSU. Around 200 people joined the protest, where student leaders delivered speeches expressing their anger against government corruption.
A day after the mobilization, the DOrSU University Student Council (USC) released a statement of support for a student who voiced opinions and convictions during an interview on 101.1 Brigada Mati City on the protest day. The student expressed a position against corruption and emphasized holding the Dutertes accountable.
The radio report drew broad reactions on social media, and the student became the target of insults, harassment, and red-tagging. The student consequently requested for her interview to be taken down out of fear for her safety. Instead of protecting the student’s security, the radio station reposted the interview and announced that the student requested taking it down.
According to the DOrSU USC, the constitution guarantees every individual’s and student’s freedom of expression. The council denounced the harassment of their fellow student and expressed dismay at the radio station for publishing the student’s request to delete the news, violating her privacy rights.
“This reckless action has caused emotional and psychological distress, amplifying hate and exposing a student to humiliation instead of safeguarding her dignity,” the DOrSU USC declared. The council demanded 101.1 Brigada Mati to issue an apology to the student and the DOrSU community, uphold journalism ethics in protecting privacy, and avoid actions that worsen the damage already inflicted.
Aside from AdDU and DOrSU, the University of the Philippines-Mindanao also launched a separate walkout on September 19. At least 600 individuals participated in the demonstration at UP Mindanao in Davao City.
