Margie Markland

Delegates of the 57th convention of the General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) from the University of the Philippines (UP) were intercepted by state forces following a lightning rally on August 16, with one illegally arrested and several collapsing.

Photo Courtesy of Altermidya/UP Cebu University Student Council.

The peaceful protest, staged in downtown Tacloban, was cut short as police accused the students of being recruited into the New People's Army.

From a Facebook live video by the UP Solidaridad, almost 10 minutes since the program had started, the delegates were corralled by police officers and were pressed to only be released once names were provided. 

Congressman Raoul Manuel, one of the GASC's plenary speakers, and UP Tacloban Student Affairs officials responded to the situation and called for their unconditional return to the campus.

“Sinasabi nila na nakakagambala daw pero actually ‘yung program, sa mas maikli, hamak na ang nagsagabal sa ating mga kabataan ay itong mga pulis, hinaharangan nila ang kalsada,” Manuel said in the livestream.

The students, including the detained delegate, were soon released nearly two hours after negotiations.

“Ganito pala ang mga pulis sa Tacloban, hindi ko inakala na ang hirap kausapin. Sa ibang mga instances, ‘yung mga pulis hinahayaan ‘yung mga nagprotesta na makauwi, pero dito, ganito pala kasahol ang mga pulis sa Tacloban,” Manuel added.

The mobilization centered on calls to junk the anti-terrorism law and end ceaseless red-tagging.

They also called for the immediate release of the three organizers of the Tacloban 5, who were similarly illegally arrested in 2020 and remain in jail over charges under the anti-terrorism law.

This is the first time since 2020 that a mobilization was held in Tacloban City, and at least 100 youth leaders from across the UP System participated in the protest.

In a discussion shown in UP Solidaridad’s video, police explained that they based their “warrantless arrest” of the delegate on Article 146 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

Under Article 146 of the RPC, a penalty of six years to 10 years of imprisonment shall be imposed upon organizers of any meeting attended by armed persons for the purpose of committing any of the crimes punishable under the code.

“If any person present at the meeting carries an unlicensed firearm, it shall be presumed that the purpose of said meeting, insofar as he is concerned, is to commit acts punishable under this code,” a portion of the RPC read.

The GASC is a biannual forum where representatives from the different student councils across the various UP campuses discuss matters concerning the student body, student rights, and various social and political issues. 

Decisions made during the GASC will guide the collective stance and actions of the UP student councils on university-wide and national issues.