Students protest as Alyansa bets hold presscon at Bulacan State U

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — State scholars on Wednesday staged a protest action before the press conference of Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas candidates in Bulacan State University (BulSU) in Malolos.

"Wala ho kaming balak manggulo. Ang nais lang namin ay magpanawagan dahil bilang Iskolar ng Bayan, kami rin ang unang-unang naapektuhan ng bawat proyekto ng bawat kandidato na ine-endorso ng BulSU administration. Ang espasyo ay para sa estudyante hindi para sa pulitiko," one of the student protesters shouted.

(We have no intention of causing a commotion. As the nation's scholars, we only want to convey our clamor for authorities to uphold our welfare. We are the first to be affected by projects endorsed by the BulSU administration. The space for students is not for politicians.)

The protesters aired their opposition against political bets and the candidates allied with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"Malaking hamon sa atin ang maipanalo ang mga karapat-dapat sa posisyon. Hindi 'yung alyansa ng mga corrupt, hindi yung mga alyansa ng mga mamatay-tao," the student protester further said.

(It's a big challenge for us to have deserving candidates win in the polls—not the alliance of the corrupt, not the alliance of killers.)

The students were not only protesting against the Marcos administration, but also against Vice President Sara Duterte.

One raised placard read: "BBM. Sara. Nakaka-stress kayo." (Bongbong Marcos. Sara Duterte. You cause us stress.)

"Marcos, Duterte, walang pinag-iba. Panawagan sa mga senador, sahod itaas, presyo ibaba (Marcos, Duterte, they're no different from each other. We call on senators to raise wages, lower prices of commodities)," the students chanted.

Officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) formed a human barricade as the BulSU students held their protest.

The press conference was attended by administration senatorial candidates Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Erwin Tulfo, and Abby Binay. 

'Huwag kaming sisihin'

Responding to this, the administration senatorial candidates said they understand the concerns of the students, but clarified that the campaign rally will not be held at BulSU and that they were not the ones who arranged the press conference inside the campus. 

“Unang-una wala po kaming kinalaman dito, hindi nga namin alam na dito kami pupunta until last night, ako particularly. So, ‘yon tama rin naman ang mga istudyante, naintindihan natin ‘yong situation nila pero sana ‘wag naman kaming sisihin, kasi kami naimbitahan lang kaming pumunta dito,” Lacson said. 

(First of all, we have nothing to do with this. We don’t even know that we will go here until last night. The students were right, we understand their situation, but we are not to blame here because we were just invited to come here.)

Tulfo echoed Lacson’s position and said that they have nothing to do with the conduct of the press conference inside BulSU. 

“May punto nga naman sila…Ang eskuwelahan dapat ilayo sa mga politiko. Dapat walang politics dito. Ewan ko kung sino ang naglagay sa amin dito. We really don’t know. Nagulat na lang ako,” Tulfo said. 

(The students raised a valid point. The schools should be off limits to politicians. There shouldn’t be politics here. I don’t know who arranged this. We really don’t know. I was also surprised.)

For his part, Sotto made it clear that the rally will not be held inside the state university. — VDV/BM, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.