USM classes resume as protesters leave campus gates

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines  --- Classes in the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) resumed Monday after protesters picketing at the school gates disbanded following the appointment of a school caretaker in lieu of its president whose ouster they have been seeking since January.

Lawyer Christopher Cabilen, who replaced on Monday the beleaguered USM president Jesus Antonio Derije, is a senior legislative assistant of North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco.

Dozens of protesters, some of them members of the USM’s rank and file, picketed for almost six months at the main gate of the university to seek  Derije's ouster over alleged mismanagement and embezzling of school funds.  

Cabilen, however, will only act as USM caretaker for four weeks, while waiting for the decision of the Ombudsman on the graft cases involving Derije and the decision of the Commission on Higher Education on the clamors for his immediate replacement.

Classes at the USM resumed immediately after the protesters left its gate through the intercession of local officials.

The protesters twice clashed with policemen that tried to disperse them to allow Derije to report to his office inside the 6,000-hectare campus of USM.

The protesters only agreed to remove their barricades at the USM gate after a dialogue with Catamco and other local officials.

The dialogue was held a day after President Benigno Aquino III vowed to look into the leadership crisis at USM in response to appeals by USM students affected by the standoff.  John Unson