UP profs urged to excuse students joining EDSA rallies

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan reminded professors that they should encourage students to participate in activities commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the EDSA revolution this month.

In a memo released Thursday, Tan noted that political groups will sponsor different kinds of activities to draw attention to national issues such as human rights, extrajudicial killings, Charter change and federalism, Mindanao martial law and mass transport in the next few days.

"Whenever possible, please excuse students if they miss classes because of their participation in these activities, for which they should present proof of attendance," Tan said in the memo.

The professors, however, should make it clear that students cannot be excused for missing exams and deadlines for reports.

The UP Diliman chancellor added he himself had attended some protests.

"I have participated in some of the activities and am disturbed, realizing that we live not only on an age of fake news but of silence, particularly in relation to human rights in Mindanao. The lumads, who were only recently, in UP Diliman are frequent victims," Tan said.

Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to kick out UP students to continue to hold protest actions against his administration and that he would give their slots to deserving Lumads.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque had clarified that the president has no intention of curtailing the students' right to free speech.

"What the President is saying is let us not waste the people’s money that we set aside for free tuition in all state universities and colleges," Roque said, adding that students can protest as long as they do it after class.