Several graduating students of West Visayas State University (WVSU) have opposed the university’s choice of speaker for its recognition ceremony: Lt. General Antonio Nafarrete, Commanding General of the Philippine Army.

Several students pinned a black ribbon on their uniform to express their protest during the ceremony.

“Nakibahagi tayo sa wearing of black ribbon as a show of our collective protest na hindi natin tinatanggap si Mr. Nafarrete dito sa ating unibersidad dahil nakita natin sa kanyang pamumuno, meron siyang madugong kasaysayan sa mga operasyon na kanyang ginpangunahan,” said Matt Gonzaga, one of the graduates.

The protesters cited the Army’s alleged inhuman conduct of operations on civilians like the operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental that ended in the death of 19 individuals.

Authorities have since said that those killed in the operation were alleged members of the rebel group.

Read related stories:

UP student leader, local journo among those killed in Toboso clash https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/113831/up-student-leader-local-journo-among-those-killed-in-toboso-clash/story/

Probe sought into alleged encounter that killed 19 in Toboso https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/news/113860/probe-sought-into-alleged-encounter-that-killed-19-in-toboso/story/

The university said it respected the position of the students but hoped the students could have asked for a conversation with school officials.

“They resorted to social media instead of talking to the admin via peaceful means or via peaceful dialogue. In the end, all is well and it ended well, I think they were behaved and the university is happy about it,” said Dr. Joselito Villaruz, President of WVSU.

Nafarrete, for his part, opined:

“Sila mismo, pinapahiya nila ang kanilang school. Imagine, the university is a government school using government funds para mapag-aral sila so they should respect the school,” he said.

He said his presence at the school should not have been a cause for concern.

“Bakit mag-pose ng threat? In the first place, we are on the same side, gobyerno tayo,” he said.

Nafarrete graduated from the WVSU Integrated Laboratory School in 1986.