Students filed complaints before the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for cases of harassment and surveillance allegedly perpetrated by elements of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
BY BULATLAT
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Students filed complaints before the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for cases of harassment and surveillance allegedly perpetrated by elements of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The Tanggulan Youth Network for Human Rights and Civil Liberties led the students from Arellano University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Jose Rizal University and University of the Philippines in filing the said complaints.
Buyaya Quizon, spokesperson of Tanggulan and chairperson of the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) said the CHED itself is being used by state agents to demonize student leaders and endanger their safety.
Quizon cited the memorandum issued by CHED Region VII Office that allows Civil Military Operations Battalion to conduct so-called “counter-insurgency awareness seminar” in universities.
The group revealed that such ‘seminars’ are being held in secondary and tertiary schools. The Tanggulan said during these ‘seminars’ soldiers publicly malign the activists in schools, branding them as recruiters of the New People’s Army (NPA).
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Quizon also said that intelligence agents of the AFP constantly conduct surveillance operations inside the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The group also cited the case of a student of Arellano University (AU).
Leni Valeriano, Tanggulan’s paralegal officer, said the student sought their group’s help after being summoned by the university’s head security officer.
Valeriano refused to identify the name of the said student for security reasons. The student is an active member of the League of Filipino Students (LFS).
According to Valeriano, the head security officer, identified only as Mr. Anquilla, told the student that his activities are being closely monitored. Anquilla was quoted as saying that they have photographs of the said student while attending rallies. Anquilla also told the student that an intelligence agent of the AFP, a certain Capt. Chico, wanted to talk to the student.
Quizon said that such military actions endanger their safety and security. “Inilalagay sila sa panganib ng pamamaslang at pagdukot, na wala namang ibang pwedeng gumawa kundi ang military. Tinatakot sila upang itigil nila ang kanilang pagiging kritiko sa mga polisiya ng gobyernong Arroyo.” (They are being put in danger of being killed or abducted, which only the military could do. They are being intimidated to put a stop to their activities that are critical to the policies of the Arroyo government.)
She said these abuses violate their right to freedom of expression, right to free movement and right to organization.(Bulatlat.com)
