Students walk out of classes in Manila to protest high oil prices

MANILA, Philippines - Students from the University of the Philippines in Manila on Thursday walked out of their classes to protest high oil prices. A radio report quoted Jose Ignacio Tenorio, chairperson of UP Manila’s College of Arts and Sciences student council, as saying that students from the campus’ seven colleges were joined by some professors in their protest. "Ipakita ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan sa buong sambayanang Pilipino na kami ay tumututol hindi lamang sa mga anti-estudyante polisiya sa edukasyon pati na rin sa mga anti-mamamayang polisiya ng rehimen ni Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na nagpapahirap sa sambayanang Pilipino (The Iskolar ng Bayan are showing to the entire nation that we are against not just anti-student policies on education but also anti-citizen policies of the regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that cause the suffering of the nation)," said Tenorio. As of posting time, a program was currently being held in the campus. The students were to march to España in the afternoon and proceed to Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang. On Tuesday, UP students and drivers from the Diliman campus in Quezon City barricaded the University Avenue to protest high oil prices and ‘revisit’ the 1971 Diliman Commune, wherein students and drivers also barricaded the campus. "If government continues to remain unresponsive to the critical situation of skyrocketing oil and food prices, the UP students and other affected sectors like transport have no other choice but to mount a new Diliman Commune in UP’s centennial year," said Terry Ridon, former UP Student Regent and Youth Revolt spokesperson in a statement. Also on Tuesday, League of Filipino Students national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said in a statement that several youth and student groups are also expected to walk out of their classes on July 18 to "show their disgust over the government’s inability to address the crisis in favor of the poor Filipinos." - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV