HoR Makabayan bloc files resolution condemning student repression in DLSU-D
The House of Representatives (HoR) Makabayan coalition recently filed House Resolution No. 1976 condemning the repression of academic freedom and political rights in DLSU-D, following the actions of Student Welfare and Formation Office (SWAFO), as well as the threats and intimidation of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), against Coalition of Concerned Lasallians (CCL) Coordinator Paolo Tarra today, August 28.
In the resolution, the bloc members, composed of Kabataan Party-List’s Raoul Manuel, Gabriela Women’s Party’s Arlene Brosas, and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) Party-List’s France Castro, also called on the University administration to stop all forms of intimidation and threats against student leaders.
They further urged the said administration to reaffirm its commitment to academic freedom and students’ rights, appealing for the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to investigate as well the alleged violations of academic freedom in DLSU-D and to take appropriate actions regarding the matter.
“Sa puntong ito, hindi pa rin naman natatapos ‘yung paglaban natin para sa academic freedom sa pagkapanalo sa kaso, and hanggang nariyan ‘yung repressive policies that exist inside private institutions like La Salle, mananatili at mananatili ‘yung iba’t ibang porma ng repression laban sa activists,” Tarra reiterated in an interview.
The CCL Coordinator also revealed that while his case was ongoing, NTF-ELCAC bribed him and his family to cooperate in exchange of “removing” his case.
“May possible coordination between state agents pati sa mga offices inside La Salle, particularly, na nakakaalarma dahil may ganito na palang tulungan ng mga state agents pati ng mga private schools like La Salle para lang kitilin ‘yung karapatan ng mga estudyante pati mga organisasyon sa loob ng kanilang mga paaralan,” he stated.
The interview shed light on the current updates on Tarra’s case, following his recent surveillance from NTF-ELCAC after the University Decision Board’s (UDB) decision to withdraw his non-readmission sanction from SWAFO last May.
On the same day, the said representatives also filed a resolution condemning the signed University of the Philippines and Armed Forces of the Philippines (UP-AFP) cooperation agreement and demanding its “immediate termination.”
This initiative aims to hold the government accountable while urging other lawmakers to defend academic rights and freedom, especially in light of state and campus repression affecting all educational institutions.
Photo courtesy of CCL
