Duterte ‘somehow confused’ proponents of academic strike -Roque

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte “somehow confused” the proponents of the academic strike after the chief executive threatened to cut funding to state-run University of the Philippines (UP).

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Roque clarified that it was the students of the Ateneo de Manila University, a private institution, who pushed for an academic strike to protest the government’s “criminally neglectful” typhoon and pandemic response.

“He also, I think, somehow confused the proponents of this academic strike. I explained it was the Ateneo students advocating for the academic strike but somehow, I think someone in that meeting said, ‘No, UP Manila also called for an academic strike,’” Roque said as he recalled Duterte’s meeting with some Cabinet members on Tuesday in Malacañang where the President issued the threat.

“I was not sure about the accuracy of that statement so I kept quiet but I insisted it was not UP-Diliman. Of course I have to be protective of my academic institution, not only did I graduate from there, I also taught for almost 20 years there,” he added.

Duterte justified his threat against UP by accusing it of being a breeding ground for communist rebels.

“As far as the threat to UP is concerned, I don’t think the UP students actually joined the Ateneans about the so-called academic strike but everyone knows now that as a result of a bill that we supported in the 17th Congress, that there is now free tuition in all state universities and colleges,” Roque said.

“And I think the message of the President is consistent – if you don’t want to study, then stop studying and we’ll use that funds elsewhere.”

The UP System has a proposed budget of P19.676 billion for 2021.—AOL, GMA News