UP students unfazed by Duterte's threat against protesters
MANILA — Students of the University of the Philippines who took part in a nationwide protest on Thursday were unfazed by the threat of President Duterte that he will strip them of the right to study at the country's premier state university.
The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP), a political party in UP Diliman, said the student movement will push through with its plan to organize a bigger protest on February 23 to condemn some of the policies of the Duterte administration.
"Duterte has the gall to say that he will provide university slots to Lumads, yet only months prior he has unabashedly threatened to bomb Lumad schools in Mindanao, along with sending military troops to their communities, harassing them and causing them to evacuate from their ancestral lands," the group said.
"If there is anyone who needs to give up his slot, it is none but Rodrigo Duterte himself. He and his allies can only expect bigger and bigger protests," it added.
On Thursday, Duterte threatened to give the slots of protesting UP students to Lumad children.
"I'll give you a privilege: don't come to school for a year. I'll let the bright Lumad enter UP," he said as hundreds of students walked out of their classes to protest against the administration.
In a separate statement, the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) shrugged off the president's remark, saying it is a manifestation of his fear toward broadening protests against his government.
"The youth and students will definitely launch much bigger walkouts. After being a burden to the Filipinos by waging a political and economic war against the people, he should not be surprised," the NUSP said.