Thousands of students walked out of classes today to call for the resignation of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III over the Mamasapano offensive a day after the Board of Inquiry released their report on the bloody operations.
The students also condemned the “unlimited” tuition hikes under the Aquino government. They called for justice for Rosana Sanfuego and Kristel Tejada, students who took their lives after they were unable to pay for tuition and campus fees.
University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman walkout
The students opposed the “yellow-washing” of the Mamasapano investigations and condemned the Aquino government’s efforts to “cover-up and hide the truth from the public.”
In UP, campus administrators including UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan and several college deans took part in the protests.
UP Diliman walkout
UP Diliman
Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Manila walkout
Campus walkouts started at 10am and “blackout” marches in campuses were held in the afternoon.
Students from the University of the East, Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, National Teachers College and many others also held campus “Blackout Protests for Justice.” Similar youth protests were also held in Baguio, Pampanga, Laguna, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao.
Univeristy of Sto Tomas (UST) walkout
Monumento, Caloocan City
“The BOI report further exposes BS Aquino as a liar and a traitor. That American soldiers were seen in the command posts confirms that they were running the show. Aquino betrayed the nation and sacrificed the lives of Filipinos in the altar of US terror war. Buking na buking na po kayo ng taumbayan, Mr. PNoychio,” said Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan.
Crisostomo meanwhile said the BOI report may have already been doctored when it was not released immediately to “yellow-wash” President Aquino’s role. He also said the refusal to continue the hearings in the lower house, the termination of the Senate hearings and the suspension order on Makati Mayor Junjun Binay are part of efforts to “misdirect and deceive.”
University of the Philippines (UP) Manila walkout
UP Manila
“Aquino is entangled in his own web of lies. His desperate efforts anger the Filipino people further. Today we walkout against BS; no more lies, no more injustice, no more impunity,” he said.
Videos of the UP Diliman walkout can be viewed in the Anakbayan facebook page by clicking the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1059433084072121
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1059433974072032
(Photos and videos are from Anakbayan National Office)
