Slain UP students did not tell LGU about community research - Toboso local official

The students of the University of the Philippines (UP) who were killed during an alleged encounter with government troops in Toboso, Negros Occidental did not give prior notice to the local government about their community research in the area, a local official said.

According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, Toboso information officer Albertito Morados said he plans to coordinate with UP to know its guidelines on conducting community research.“Na dapat mayroon siyang letter from the university kaya siguro susulat kami sa university kung ano ‘yung guidelines ng university when it comes to community research. Kasi sa pagkakaalam natin, wala po talagang isang estudyante na pumunta sa barangay o munisipyo parang process of courtesy call na magpahayag na meron silang gagawin na instrumental study,” Morados said.

(They should have a letter from the university. We plan to write to the university to ask about its guidelines regarding community research. As far as we know, no student went to the barangay or municipal hall for a courtesy call, to inform us that they will be conducting an instrumental study.)

GMA News has reached out to UP on the issue. UP, in a statement, urged the public to refrain from judging its students for going to underserved communities.

It said students’ learning is not limited to the classroom.

UP added that the two students were reportedly conducting community activities for their organizations and not for university-sanctioned programs.

However, UP stood firm in upholding students’ rights and freedoms under the 1987 Constitution, particularly in promoting social consciousness.

It also expressed support for the initiative of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the incident.

UP issued the statement as it expressed grief over the deaths of students Alyssa Alano and Maureen Santuyo, who were among the 19 individuals killed during an alleged clash in Toboso on April 19. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/JMA, GMA News