LAWMAKERS from the Makabayan bloc filed a resolution on June 2 seeking a House probe into the alleged “weaponization” of university policies against student activists.
The move came after a Faculty of Arts and Letters professor filed a complaint against three students before a college-level disciplinary body.
House Resolution No. 1078, filed by Kabataan Rep. Renee Co, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago, expressed concern over the alleged “retaliatory use of university administrative policies” against students involved in an incident with military personnel on campus.
It cited the tense situation on April 21, when a group of students confronted personnel from the Philippine Air Force who were holding an exhibit at the lobby of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.
“The weaponization of university administrative policies to retaliate against students for expressing legitimate grievances and criticizing state forces constitutes a grave breach of the institution’s duty to uphold and foster academic freedom, free expression, and critical inquiry,” the resolution read.
A press release from Kabataan party-list group’s UST chapter identified the Artlets students subject of the complaint as Raven Racelis, Ray Manuel, and Kerby Calizar, while youth group Anakbayan identified the faculty member on social media as Marlon Villarin.
The Varsitarian sought comments from Villarin, who teaches at the Department of Political Science, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.
The lawmakers claimed the complaint reflected a “clear pattern of repression against critical dissent,” citing previous incidents involving Racelis, including alleged red-tagging and online harassment following a “terror-grooming” forum in November 2025.
In the resolution, the lawmakers also called on UST to “dismiss all retaliatory administrative charges” filed against the students.
During the April 21 exhibition, students confronted the uniformed personnel and pointed to Air Force bombing and strafing campaigns in the provinces.
Co appeared with members of Kabataan’s Artlets chapter at Gate 11 on May 28 to protest the show-cause and notice-to-explain orders issued against the three students.
Racelis said they had submitted their responses to the Artlets Student Welfare and Development Committee (SWDC) and questioned the status of the complaint she had filed following the “terror-grooming” forum incident, during which an audience member allegedly called her a communist.
Racelis also called for the ratification of the Magna Carta of Students and revisions to the UST Student Handbook, particularly regarding membership in progressive groups and organizations not recognized by the University.
“Matagal na siyang niwe-weaponize laban sa mga aktibista, laban sa mga progresibo, na para i-invalidate yung mga sinasabi namin, where in fact wala namang masama sa pagsali, sa pagiging aktibista, o sa pagsali sa activist group,” she told the Varsitarian after the May 28 protest.
Calizar pushed for the dismissal of the complaints filed against him, Manuel, and Racelis.
“No handbook rule can overthrow the Constitution. Because the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, at ‘yun ang dapat masunod. […] Hindi natatakot ang kabataan sa kanila dahil kami ay patuloy na lalaban, dahil alam namin na sinusuportahan kami ng bawat tao at mamamayan,” Calizar said. With reports from Ethan Joshua Nikholai F. Guisama
