Groups of parents hold indignation rally vs academic break

An “indignation rally” against academic break was held by the League of Parents of the Philippines, Hands Off Our Children, and other groups of parents at the University of the Philippines, Ateneo De Manila University, and the Commission of Human Rights on Thursday.

According to Remy Rosadio, president of the League of Parents of the Philippines, some students oppose the call for an academic break and an academic strike.

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“Kasi ang gusto ng mga magulang, matuloy-tuloy ang pag-aaral ng mga kabataan para makapagtapos,” she said.

“‘Yung sa Ateneo naman po na panawagan nila, naiintindihan naman natin na meron po tayong bagyo na dumaan, sunod sunod. May mga lugar naman talaga na walang internet, naputol dahil sa bagyo, ‘yun pwede pa ‘yun.

“Pero ‘yung gusto kasi nila, na ung kabataan ay mag-aklas which is para sa aming mga magulang, mali po un. Dahil sayang po ang pinaaaral natin sa ating mga anak para i-recruit lang nila na isama dyan sa mga rally. Tapos ang kalabasan pala, nang-recruit na sila para gawing combatant ng NPA,” said Rosadio.

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Rosadio stressed that they do not restrict students’ freedom of expression.

“Pero in a proper way na pagsabi sa ating gobyerno sa ating pangulo kung anong kakulangan niyo diyan. Hindi ‘yung manawagan kayo para mapatalsik si Duterte,” she said.

Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte told students appealing for an academic break not to attend their classes anymore.

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Groups of parents hold indignation rally vs. academic break

He threatened to cut off funds for UP, who he said was a “recruiter” of the communists.

UP Vice President for Public Affairs Dr. Elena Pernia denied that UP is involved in recruiting communists.

According to governance expert Tony La Viña, no president can withdraw funds from a national university, which is still enacted under Republic Act 9500.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque later clarified this and said that Duterte may have been confused and thought UP was the one who initiated the call for an academic strike, but insisted that university funds could be allocated to others if students skip their classes.

Ateneo De Manila University students who led the call for an academic strike insisted that the President should not speak nonsense. According to them, the strike will continue as the government kills the Filipinos for their negligence.