COEdSC, CCJESC, CBAASC create EJK Freedom Wall
In light of the ongoing national issue of extrajudicial killings (EJK) such as 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz’s case whose death was riddled with accusations of robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia, the College of Education Student Council (COEdSC) and the College of Criminal Justice Education Student Council (CCJESC) collaborated to create an “EJK Freedom Wall” located along the COEd hallway, wherein the DLSU-D community can express their opinions on EJK through handwritten notes.
In another area on campus, the College of Business Administration and Accountancy Student Council (CBAASC) also built an EJK Freedom Wall located at the GSB grounds for students to share their sentiments on the matter.
COEdSC 2017-2018 Treasure Hanz Dominic Tecson stated that the objective of the EJK Freedom Wall is “to know the opinion of each student”, along with raising social awareness to students of other colleges passing the hallway.
“Ang aim namin (COEdSC) diyan (freedom wall) is para talaga malaman ng hindi lang ng College of Education [students], COEdSC, College of Criminal Justice Education [students], kung ‘di buong La Salle,” COEdSC 2017-2018 Public Relations Officer Aaron Rhei Villarica said.
In an online interview with HERALDO FILIPINO, CCJESC 2017-2018 Public Relations Officer Cedric Camerino stated, “Students had (sic) to be expressive about current issues in the country. We (CCJESC) encourage the active participation of students in socio-political discussions.”
Among the sentiments shared by the students on the EJK Freedom Wall, Tecson mentioned that the statement “Human rights is also for criminals” was remarkable for him. “Hindi porket may nagawa, parang ang naging dating sa’kin na, oo nga naman. Tao rin naman sila,” he expressed.
When asked about their stand on EJK, Tecson and Villarica emphasized the importance of due process. He also added, “As [part of the] student council, mayro’n kasi tayong iba’t ibang opinions about that (EJK).Kasi ang EJK talaga, pag–abuso ng mga pulis sa kapangyarihan nila, which is mali kasi ‘yong mga tao natin, ‘yong mga mamamayan natin sila ‘yong mga nadadamay, especially mga mahihirap.”
Tecson, on the other hand, believed that the blame shouldn’t be directly pointed on the police. “Minsan kasi nakikita natin na parang ‘yong pulis nalang lagi may kasalanan but at the end of the day hindi natin alam kung pulis lang ba ang gustong pumatay no’n,” Tecson added.
According to Tecson, the EJK Freedom Wall serves as an eye-opener to the student council members to give an overview of how the DLSU-D community view EJK and how it affects students as members of the society.
Tecson furthered, “Dito makikita natin na hindi lang talaga tayo estudyante ng kolehiyo kundi part din tayo ng community na puwede mag–desisyon sa society to solve some problems.”
The University Student Council (USC) passed down instructions to the seven College Student Councils to create a freedom wall for EJK to which COEdSC, CCJESC, and CBAASC have already complied.
The EJK Freedom Wall will be open for all DLSU-D students and faculty until the end of September.
