Press freedom calls arise after R8 state uni security forces take down publication banner 

A standoff between students and security forces occurred during a back-to-school fair in the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) on September 17, after security forces removed a banner that was created by the university’s student publication, The Pillar.

The banner, which stated the publication’s call to junk House Bills (HBs) 9414 and 9861 on converting UEP into the National University for Sustainable Studies, was initially displayed for a banner making competition of the event’s afternoon session.

When interrogated on why the banner was removed within the university’s academic building in the first place, UEP Chief Security Officer Kim Marquita did not specify any reason to the University Student Council (USC) officers and members of The Pillar.

“Ask your adviser,” Marquita replied. 

While the banner was being taken down within the building’s second floor, a security personnel nearly pushed a publication member off stairs, prompting more students’ to call for press freedom defense.

One of the council officers, USC Vice President for External Affairs Klitz Anaviso, expressed the students’ frustration over silencing their concerns regarding the university’s facilities, as well as the lack of consultation with the university’s proposed status change.

“An importante, an estudyante masunod la an amon karuyag—pamatii kami,” Anaviso stated.

[Most importantly, our rights as students must be fulfilled—listen to us.]

In a statement by USC President Jamismark Perante, he urged the forces to respect the rights of the press, as he defined the publication as an organization of art and expression.

“This is freedom. This is self expression. Hindi natin dapat tanggalin ito,” Perante told.

Despite managing to restore the banner after the security forces’ persistence, electricity supply was then cut off in the academic building, affecting businesses of the school fair.

Additionally, a memorandum was released by the university president in order to completely cease operations of the event, which according to the document, was due to the students’ blatant violations of the university policies and disrespect toward security personnel.

For students eagerly waiting for other events such as the scheduled rave party on the evening of the same day, the sudden cessation had ignited dismay and frustration, especially among booth owners and first-year students.

“An pagal san tanan nga nag prepare san mga booths gin disregard la for the purpose of shutting down the event, or I should say kay nadire an administration mag raise an students regarding sa HB 9414, 9861”, a student stated.

[The exhaustion of all those who had prepared the booths have been disregarded for the purpose of shutting down the event, or I should say that it’s for the purpose of the administration to not let its students raise awareness on the HBs 9414, 9861.]

This is a developing story.