PNP Tacloban violently dispersed students leaders from the 57th General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) who took part in a peaceful lightning protest at Mcdiola, Tacloban City this afternoon.
University of the Philippines (UP) Tacloban hosted this year's GASC.
They also illegally arrested a UP Mindanao council representative, who was later released after negotiation.
…However, some delegates were still blocked as the police pressed them to release names. They also threatened the negotiating panel from UP, insisting that no other mobilizations of this nature must take place after the incident.
Hon. Raoul Manuel, one of the GASC's plenary speakers, responded to the situation and called for their unconditional return to the campus.
The mobilization earlier centered on calls for free, accessible, and quality education. The UP System is expected to suffer from budget cuts under the 2025 National Expenditure Program of the Marcos Jr administration.
They also called for the immediate release of the three organizers of the Tacloban 5, who were similarly illegally arrested in 2020 and still languish in jail over trumped up charges under the Anti-Terror Law.
📸 UP Solidaridad/Facebook Live
