2 student leaders snub police summons

MANILA, Philippines — Two student leaders from the University of the Philippines (UP) and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) rejected the subpoenas issued by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for participating in the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests.

In separate letters to acting CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II, UP Diliman University Student Council chair Joaquin Buenaflor and PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral president Tiffany Brillante expressed their reluctance to participate in the probe.

Advised by their lawyer Mark Vincent Lim, Buenaflor and Brillante said the CIDG was conducting a “custodial investigation” and by being summoned as alleged “leaders,” they were being treated as suspects and not as witnesses.