Human rights group Karapatan criticized the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for suspending four student activists who staged a campus protest against the Philippine Air Force (PAF), calling the action a violation of their rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
The students-Raven Racelis, Ralph Manuel, Mecaella Capallar, and Dex Frogoso-were suspended for four to 10 days over the April 21 protest.
Capala was also removed from her post as a student council officer, while the university withheld the students’ certificates of good moral character.
‘We stand with the UST students in their struggle against this latest act of repression that adds to the growing number of attempts by the state to suppress the people’s right to protest,’ said Karapatan in a statement on Tuesday.
On April 21, the students confronted PAF personnel in a military equipment exhibit at UST, which was commemorating its 415th anniversary and the PAF’s 79th.
The students raised concerns over the military’s use of assets and questioned the presence of military personnel on the campus.
Karapatan said the UST administration agreed to the PAF’s demand to discipline the students, but the ‘sanctions fell short of the PAF’s call to expel them from UST.’
‘It is alarming enough that the military is encroaching on campuses, stifling academic freedom and the students’ right to free expression and to protest,’ said Karapatan.