Cebu university bars media from covering Grace Poe on campus

The University of San Carlos on Monday steered clear of partisan politics as it barred the media from covering Senator Grace Poe's activities inside the campus in connection with its Foundation Week celebration.

"Someone mentioned the possibility of her visiting. She may tour the campus but not hold meetings of any kind," USC president Fr. Dionisio Miranda President said in a text message.

"We don't want the opening of the intrams to be politicized," another member of the faculty said in a separate text.
 
Poe said she respected the decision of the university.

“The important thing is for the students to see my presence here,” she told reporters.

Talking to USC students, Poe committed to stand up for the rights of the youth sector by pushing for programs to make quality education more accessible.

"Nothing political but I would like to tell you that I sympathize with all of your needs particularly to be able to continue to afford quality education,” Poe said.

Nicole Ann Ponce, president of the USC Supreme Student Council, said they invited Senator Poe for a “very low-key event.”

“She was already here so why not visit and meet her. That’s just really the purpose. Very low key, as you see no streamers, no banners,” she said.

Officials of a state university in Cavite were earlier criticized by Malacañang after some of its students were supposedly required to attend Vice President Jejomar Binay’s so-called True State of the Nation Address.

Binay was also in Cebu on Monday to visit several barangays in the cities of Talisay and Toledo.

President Benigno Aquino III and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II were also in the vote-rich province to attend a “gathering of friends” at the Cebu Coliseum.

“Malaki naman ang Cebu at saka para rin matandaan ng mga kababayan natin dito sa Cebu na importante and kanilang pangangailangan dito,” Poe said. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/NB, GMA News