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UP Regent: Rapist and murderer Sanchez does not deserve release

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An official of the University of the Philippines (UP) opposed the possible early release of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez who, earlier announcements said, may be eligible for parole next month.

A statement posted by the office of UP Student Regent John Isaac Punzalan said it condemns plans for Sanchez’s early release from prison.

“We are one with the families of the victims, the rest of the UP community, and the people in demanding full justice for Eileen and Allan and not allowing the release of the rapist and murderer Sanchez. He does not deserve the early release as evident in the violations he committed inside the prison,” the statement reads.

The former Calauan, Laguna mayor was convicted in 1995 for the abduction, rape and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and the torture and murder of her boyfriend Allan Gomez, both UP Los Baños students as well as the earlier murder of father and son Nelson and Rickson Peñalosa in 1996.

Sanchez was sentenced with a total of nine counts of reclusion perpetua, which is equivalent to up to 40 years in prison each.

He has only served 25 years.

Sanchez’s remaining time in prison may be “recomputed” after displaying “good conduct,” an earlier government announcement said.

But the UP official said Sanchez was found to be in possession of P1.5 million worth of shabu and reported to have violated other prison regulations such as keeping a flat screen television set and an airconditioning unit while in jail.

Public outcry against Sanchez’s possible early release heightened after Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that his former client’s inclusion among the roughly 11,000 inmates to benefit from the 2013 Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law and a Supreme Court ruling that made the law retroactive is “automatic.”

Senator Ronald dela Rosa also invited widespread opposition to the planned move when he said that Sanchez “deserves a second chance.”

Seemingly reacting to the outcry, Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon, however, said Thursday that Sanchez’s early release is not yet a done deal.

The UP Student Regent’s office said Sanchez’s planned early release is proof that the justice system in the country is “rotting as ever, only seeking to side with the oppressors and those in power.”

“They’re criminalizing human rights advocates and activists but they’re letting rapists, murderers, and plunderers walk free,” the Regent’s statement says. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

UP students, nagprotesta kontra suspensyon ng mga patnugot ng Rebel Kule

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Nagsagawa ng isang kilos-protesta ang mga mag-aaral ng Universidad ng Pilipinas sa Diliman noong Hunyo 26 sa Quezon Hall kontra sa ipinataw na suspensyon sa mga patnugot ng Rebel Collegian.

Ayon sa mga estudyante, hindi katanggap-tanggap ang desisyon na iginawad ng University Council Executive Committee (EC) na suspensyon sa pitong mamamahayag pang-kampus.

Nauna nang ipinawalang-sala ang mga patnugot ng Student Disciplinary Council subalit binaligtad ito ng EC noong Hunyo 20.

Kinasuhan ang pitong patnugot ng fraud, disobedience and stealing nang sinasabing admin-installed editor in chief ng Philippine Collegian na si Jayson Edward San Juan matapos hindi i-turnover ang social media account ng Collegian, bagay na iginiit ng Rebel Kule na hindi ito pagmamay-ari kailanman ng publikasyon. (Bidyo ni: Joseph Cuevas/ Kodao)

The UP ‘Rebel Kule’ case: Flatlining free expression

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Altermidya Network, the broad alliance of alternative media and community journalists groups in the Philippines, denounces the patently unreasonable manner in which the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Executive Committee (EC) ordered the suspension of the editorial board of the “Rebel Kule.”

The EC on June 21 overturned the earlier decision of the UP Diliman Student Disciplinary Council (SDC) to dismiss the charges of stealing, fraud, and disobedience filed by Philippine Collegian outgoing editor-in-chief Jayson Edward San Juan against the editors of Rebel Kule. The charges were based on allegations of misconduct in relation to the use of the Facebook and Twitter accounts that San Juan claimed were among the Collegian’s digital assets.

The EC – composed of the university’s deans and directors, the chancellor, vice chancellor, the university registrar, and other officials – released a two-page decision suspending the members of the Rebel Kule editorial board for one semester and five weeks, without even explaining why it has overturned the SDC’s earlier ruling, which said that San Juan’s accusations had “no sufficient basis.”

Among those to be suspended is incoming Philippine Collegian EIC Beatrice Puente, making her assumption of the position problematic. Also suspended are three graduating editors who were excluded from the graduation list this semester.

Rebel Kule has pointedly emphasized how due process was grossly set aside – both by the EC and the SDC – by not informing the respondents that San Juan appealed the SDC’s decision. Neither was the respondents given a copy of the appeal. Worse, the highest academic body in UP’s flagship campus made its decision with neither enough justification nor reason.

Not only is this move a dangerous precedent for campus publications throughout the country, it also undermines the University of the Philippines’ reputation as a bastion of free speech and expression by  imposing unwarranted penalties on students who dared continue the Philippine Collegian’s progressive tradition.

We have witnessed how, in times of turmoil, Rebel Kule persisted in reporting relevant issues that students and the UP community needed to know.

Is this how UP works now: haphazardly releasing decisions without the benefit of either logic or reason? Has the malady of oppression and repression besieging the nation now also adversely affected what was once a bastion of dissent?

The entire nation is besieged by the killing of journalists, the warrantless arrests against regime critics, and the harassments — and it seems that the country’s premier university has become just one more government institution similarly engaged in repression.

Just as we must hold accountable the UP Diliman administration and call for it to correct what we deem as a grave mistake, we must all unite in combating the darkness enveloping the nation. We cannot allow our civil liberties to flatline, and with it the country’s hopes for a true democracy. #

UPD Chancellor Tan statement on leaked group chat of Upsilon Sigma Phi

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November 13, 2018

Full statement of University of the Philippines, Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan on fraternity-related violence, on the leaked messages from the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. (Video by Jo Maline D. Mamangun)

Kumusta na si Lordei Hina?

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Kumusta na si Lordei Hina?

Pitong taon na ang nakakalipas, hindi pa rin natatamasa ni Lordei Hina at ng kanyang pamilya ang katarungan mula sa malagim na krimeng naranasan niya sa loob ng kampus ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

Si Lordei Hina ay isang estudyante ng Unbersidad ng Pilipinas, isang graduating student sa ilalim ng kursong BS Community Development. Naging Secretary-General si Lordei ng Center for Nationalist Studies (CNS) at aktibong miyembro ng Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP).

Pebrero 1, 2012 habang naghihintay si Lordei sa loob ng opisina ng University Student Council sa Vinzons Hall para sa isang miting ay bigla siyang nilooban ng dalawang lalaking nagpanggap na mga tattoo artist na lalahok sa gaganapin na UP Fair.

Kuwento ng kanyang mga kaibigan, lumaban si Lordei upang iligtas ang sarili. Sa kasamaang palad, nasaksak siya ng ilang beses ng ice pick sa ulo. Ninakaw ng mga salarin ang ilang mga laptop at cellphone na nasa opisina at tumabko. Natagpuang duguan si Lordei ng kanyang kaibigan at agad siyang dinala sa ospital.

Nahuli ang isa sa dalawang suspek at sinampahan ng kasong frustrated homicide. Kalaunan ay nagpiyansa rin at pansamantalang nakalaya. Ang isa naman ay nakapagtago. Pitong taon na ang nakakalipas, hindi parin natatapos ang paglilitis sa Regional Trial Court, Branch 91, Quezon City.

Malaki na ang pinagbago ng kalusugan ni Lordei. Noong una ay hindi niya naigagalaw ang kanyang kanang kamay, nahihirapang tumayo, pakainin ang sarili at hirap makaalala. Kuwento ng kanyang inang si Connie Hina, sa kasalukuyan, kaya na umano ni Lordei na kumain magisa. Minsan ay naglalakad-lakad pa nga raw sa labas ng bahay kasama ang kanyang kapatid. Malaki na rin ang pinagbago ng kanyang memorya.

Kahanga-hanga ang tapang na ipinakita Nanay Connie habang hinaharap ang masalimuot at masakit na pangyayari. “Huwag mawalan ng pag-asa…Bumangon agad at hindi iyong tuluyang malugmok…” Ito ang matapang na salita ng isang ina na handang ipagtanggol ang kanyang anak. Bagamat positibo ang pananaw ni Nanay Connie sa lagay ni Lordei, mararamdaman sa kanyang boses ang galit sa mga kriminal na nagdulot ng pagpapahirap sa kanyang anak at pamilya at lalo’t higit sa mabagal na sistema ng hustisya.

Nitong Setyembre 7, 2018 ay nakansela ang pagdinig ng kaso ni Lordei dahil hindi dumalo ang abugado ng mga akusado mula sa Public Attorney’s Office. Maghihintay muli ang pamliya hanggang sa Nobyembre 7, 2018 para sa pagpapatuloy ng pagdinig.

Umaasa sina Nanay Connie na sa taong ito ay magkakaroon na ng linaw ang kaso ni Lordei sa Korte at makamit na ang hustisyang matagal ng inaasam. (Video ni Maricon Montajes/Kodao)

Black Friday Protest ng mga estudyante laban sa red-tagging ng AFP

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Tahasang sinagot ng mga estudyante ng University of the Philippines Diliman sa kanilang Black Friday Protest ang paglalabas ng AFP ng listahan ng 18 unibersidad na diumano ay laganap ang pagrerekrut ng CPP-NPA.

Ayon sa AFP, ang isang paraan sa panghihikayat ay ang pagpapalabas ng mga pelikula kaugnay sa Martial Law.

Ang mga paraan na ito anila, ay bahagi ng mga hakbang para sa “Red October Plot” na naglalayong patalsikin si Pangulong Duterte sa pwesto.

Isa sa 18 unibersidad na nabanggit ang University of the Philippines Diliman.

Youth activists hold ‘National Day of Remembrance’ to honor Martial Law victims

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The League of Filipino Students (LFS), one of the country’s most storied youth groups, on its 41st anniversary honored the victims and martyrs of the Martial Law in a forum at the University of the Philippines Tuesday, September 11.

Present at the forum were Nanette Castillo of RISE UP, Prof. Sarah Raymundo of No Erasures No Revisions, LFS alumnus Nathanael Santiago and Datu Tungig Mansumuy-at of Salugpongan Mindanao who compared their struggles during Marcos’ martial law to current President Rodrigo Duterte’s own tyranny.

Also present were Bonifacio Ilagan, Danilo dela Fuente and Carmencitta Caragdag who were martial law survivors.

Danilo dela Fuente, a martial law survivor and vice chairperson of SELDA (Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto) said that, “The 41st anniversary of the LFS is a manifestation that what we fought for as members of the Kabataang Makabayan during the martial law, after 41 years have passed, still continues through the LFS.”

“Our history and struggles during the martial law should not be forgotten. All the experiences and practices we had will serve as lesson on how the youth today must face the Duterte dictatorship,” dela Fuente added.

According to Kara Taggaoa, LFS national spokesperson, “The organization was established during the Marcos regime when students’ right to organize was repressed. Now that we are again facing another dictator in Malacanang, LFS’s commitment is to continue to fight for people and students democratic rights.”

Current LFS members held a protest activity and welcomed leaders of indigenous peoples group in front of the university’s Palma Hall after the forum to start a series of activities called “9 Days of Remembering and Rage: Remembering Martial Law, Rage Against Tyranny” that will culminate on the anniversary of Marcos’ declaration of martial rule on September 21. (Report and photos by Maricon Montajes)

UP educators, alumni and students condems Imee Marcos and Kabataang Barangay Reunion at UP

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Naglunsad ng press conference ang No Revisions, No Erasures: Educators Against the Rehabilitation of the Marcoses upang kundenahin ang ginanap ika-43 anibersaryo ng Kabataang Barangay sa UP Bahay ng Alumni noong Agosto 25, 2018 kung saan panauhing pandangal si Rep. Imee Marcos.

Sinagot din ng alyansa ang mga pahayag ni UP President Danilo Concepcion sa kanyang pagdalo sa nasabing pagtitipon at ang pahayag ng administrasyon ng UP tungkol sa pagpapahintulot na magamit ni Imee Marcos at Kabataang Barangay ang mga pasilidad ng UP. (Video by Maricon Montajes)

 

UP launches Jess Santiago’s book ‘Usapang Kanto’

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Jess Santiago, iconic progressive singer and multi-awarded poet, sings one of his most beloved songs “Laging Ikaw” at the launch of his book “Usapang Kanto” at the University of the Philippines Main Library last August 28.

A collection of ‘Koyang’ Jess’ columns in various publications written as poems, the book contains about 200 pieces that comments on important social issues at the time of their writing.

“Usapang Kanto” was among the several books launched by UP’s Sentro ng Wikang Filipino as part of its observance of Buwan ng Wika this month. (Video by Raymund B. Villanueva with Joseph Cuevas)

No free tuition yet under Duterte, students say

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Majority of University of the Philippines (UP) students will still be asked to pay matriculation fees despite the Rodrigo Duterte government’s announcement of an additional P8.3 billion funding to make tuition free in state universities and colleges (SUCs) next school year.

This is according to CHED and the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) April 20 Joint Memorandum setting implementing rules and regulations and prioritizing students who could benefit from the program, UP student leaders said in a dialogue with university officials Friday.

The government’s free tuition policy shall only benefit few SUC students based on their families’ socio-economic status and academic standing, they added.

Last Thursday, UP launched its online Student Financial Assistance (SFA) project to align its policies with the joint memorandum from its P367 allocation.

UP said the SFA shall accept student applications for the free tuition program which shall then match the students’ financial needs with multiple financial support and packages into a so-called comprehensive financial support for applicants.

Under the program, students may apply for the Free Tuition Policy (FTP) where recipients of Student Financial Assistance Programs (STFAP) and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are prioritized,

Students deemed unqualified under the FTP may apply for the Socialized Tuition System (STS), a bracket-based tuition system that measures a student’s capacity to pay based on socioeconomic factors.

Anti-student scheme

UP Student Regent Raoul Manuel slammed the scheme, saying it is “diametrically opposed to and contrary to the spirit of making tuition free for all.”

Manuel questioned the huge profit the university has collected from students from tuition and other school fees, saying the university under-declared its actual tuition collection of around P900-million, excluding income from other school charges.

He said the cash balance of the university has ballooned from P5.5-billion in 1999 to P12-billion by 2015 kept as part of the university’s revolving fund.

“With such a huge amount in the coffers of UP, we find no justification for the continued collection of fees except for the extraction of further profits from the students,” Manuel said.

Concepcion for his part said the university’s incomes are bound by legal processes.

“Ang pera na yan, earmarked, [at] naka-indicate kung paano gagastusin,” Concepcion explained.

Concepcion said the SFA aims to capture data in case President Rodrigo Duterte vetoes the Affordable Higher Education for All Act, which aims to provide full tuition subsidy for students in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

“Gusto naming makita kung sino yung magqu-qualify para mai-budget na natin yung perang hawak natin,” Concepcion said.

SFA also includes various financial aid, including donor-funded grants and presidential scholarships, he said.

According to Concepcion, scholarships and grants automatically becomes stipend for recipients once Duterte signs the bill.

He added that the university will ask for a supplemental budget from the government to cover other school fees since the allotted budget for UP only covers tuition.

“Pangako ko naman sa inyo na hahanap tayo ng paraan,” Concepcion said. “’Di niyo ako kalaban dito. I will do all my best to make education free,” he added.

The student-administration dialogue coincided with the National Day of Walkout, where students gathered outside Quezon Hall in UP Diliman to commemorate Duterte’s first year in office and call for the end of tuition collection.

Genuine free education

Despite the administration’s promises, however, the students vowed to stay critical and to strengthen their call for free education.

The students also denounced the real nature of the Rodrigo Duterte government’s so-called free tuition program in only select SUCs and courses around the country.

“Ang malinaw ay hindi tiyak na magkakaroon ng libreng edukasyon sa kanya,” Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) Chairperson Almira Abril said.

“Ngayon kailangan nating pag-igtingin ang ating mga panawagan, dahil ang magbibigay sa atin ng libreng edukasyon ay yung social pressure na kayang i-create ng malalaking pagkilos na ikakasa ng kabataan,” she added. # (Denver del Rosario of UP-CMC for Kodao Productions / Featured photo by Gabby Endona)