Palace to student activists: Don’t use street protest to neglect studies

Malacañang on Thursday had some advice for students planning to stage protests against President Rodrigo Duterte on February 23.

"We hope students will not skip or cut classes and use street protest as an excuse to neglect their studies. Authorities as a matter of SOP [standard operating procedure] will observe maximum tolerance and respect the protesters’ right to peaceful assembly," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a news conference.

Roque added the government's position on the right to peaceful assembly and street protest has not wavered.

"Public displays of constructive criticism, including youth participation in the protest, are allowed as part of the full exercise of the citizens’ right to express their grievances," he said.

The planned demonstrations came after Duterte told students joining protests not to go to school anymore and that he would give their slots to deserving Lumad students.

Roque later claimed that Duterte was not trying to repress the students' right to free expression but only wanted them not to "waste" taxpayers' money. — BM, GMA News