Student council chair slams Imee, Kabataang Barangay reunion: No place for such in UP

The chairperson of the University of the Philippines - Diliman Student Council denounced the supposed celebration of the 43rd anniversary of the Kabataang Barangay held at the UP Bahay ng Alumni on Saturday in which Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos was the guest of honor.

In a statement sent to GMA News Online, Yael Toribio deemed the event as an insult to the victims of the "oppressive system" under late dictator Ferdinand Marcos as well as those adversely affected by the "atrocities" of the Duterte administration.

"Definitely there is no place for such in UP. This is an insult not only to the decades long struggle of UP students in fighting the oppressive system in our society, from the Martial Law era up until the atrocities of the Duterte Administration today, but also to thousands dead and missing during this dark chapter of our country’s history, and of course to the life-long damage done to our country by the Marcos regime from our economy to the very heart and minds of Filipinos today," Toribio emphasized.

Toribio said they were surprised upon knowing that the event was held inside the UP Diliman campus.

A video posted on the Facebook account of National Youth Commission official Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema showed Marcos happily dancing on stage with KB members.

Netizens have also expressed disgust over the event.

The KB was established on April 15, 1975 by virtue of Presidential Decree 684, with the purpose of giving the youth a definite role in community affairs. The late strongman appointed his daughter, Imee, as the national chairperson of the group.

It was during the term of office of Imee Marcos, however,  that Mapua Institute of Technology student Archimedes Trajano questioned her appointment to lead the national youth organization. Days after, Trajano's body, which bore signs of severe torture, was found.

Meanwhile, social media posts have indicated that UP president Danilo Concepcion was also present during the event.

Asked for comment on Concepcion's presence, Toribio said "that should have not happened."

"The event must not have been allowed in UP in the first place. The administration must also be one with the student’s call to #NeverForget and #NeverAgain allow such atrocities to happen," Toribio pointed out. — BAP, GMA News