PNP crackdown on student leaders hit

MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) denounced last night what it saw as a crackdown of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on student leaders after a subpoena was issued against the head of the student council of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

ACT vice chairperson and UP Manila professor Carl Marc Ramota said “there is a pattern of impunity against anti-corruption advocates.”

The PNP reportedly issued subpoenas to UP-Diliman University Student Council chair Joaquin Buenaflor and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)’s Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral president Tiffany Brillante for their participation in recent protests against corruption.

Jacob Baluyot, associate editor of the PUP’s The Catalyst, was also served a subpoena.

“This is a clear case of intimidation and a violation of academic freedom and right to freedom of expression,” Ramota said. “This is deplorable. It only shows that the Marcos administration is not serious in addressing corruption in government.”

Ramota warned that this could be the start of a “crackdown on dissent to evade accountability.”