Students ‘lock down’ UP building in protest, urge ‘Iskolars ng Bayan’ to walk out of classes

University of the Philippines-Diliman's (UPD) student council alliance KASAMA sa UP and the Office of the Student Regent on Friday managed to convince students to walk out of their classes anew in protest against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Seen on their Facebook posts, protesters snaked through and gathered in front of the Palma Hall building, which they said was symbolically "locked down."

"The UP Community shows its symbolic lockdown of the Palma Hall to prove that the Iskolar ng Bayan is ready for the downfall of Duterte's dictatorship!" the UP Office of the Student Regent wrote in a Facebook post.

"Iskolar ng Bayan, walkout of your classes now and let's show Duterte the thunderous protest of the UP Community and the downfall of his dictatorship!" they also wrote.

A day before, the groups issued a statement warning they would stage another massive protest.

They slammed Duterte's threat to kick out UP students who participated in the National Day of Walkout on February 1 and give their slots to deserving lumad.

They also denounced the "fake news" accusations against embattled media organization Rappler, as well as the martial law declaration still hoisted over Mindanao. — MDM, GMA News