UP president regrets 'appearance' on Imee, KB reunion

University of the Philippines (UP) president Danilo Concepcion on Wednesday expressed regret that he attended the reunion of Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos and members of the Kabataang Barangay at the UP Bahay ng Alumni last Saturday.

"I deeply regret the pain my appearance at the Kabataang Barangay reunion in UP Diliman last August 25 caused the UP community. I intended no offense, most especially to the UP community that I serve," Concepcion said in a statement.

"My desire to be with old-time friends I had not seen for decades, no matter how briefly, made me overlook its effect on the sentiments of the UP community. Tao lang po!" Concepcion added.

His appearance in the event has gained criticisms from the public, including UP students.

The chairperson of the UP Diliman Student Council slammed how the celebration of the 43rd anniversary of KB took place inside the campus and in the presence of the University's president.

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.

"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 said.

Meanwhile, Concepcion assured the UP community that his leadership " will never forget the dark period of our country during the martial law years and will continuously hold in high esteem the University’s best and brightest who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for freedom and democracy."

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 dictator Ferdinand Marcos appointed his daughter, Imee, as national chairperson. — BAP, GMA News