THE UST Central Student Council (CSC), college councils, and other student councils in the Philippines called for the ouster of President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Sept. 21, the 49th anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial Law proclamation.
In a unity statement, the student councils said the “massive” corruption and “immense” human rights violations under Duterte’s administration paralleled Marcos’ reign of terror.
They also decried the “inept governance” of the Duterte administration amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The brunt and strife the nation has suffered under the Duterte administration mirrors that of Marcos’ reign of terror – the abuse of authority by NTF-ELCAC, enactment of Anti-Terror Law, crackdown against activists, attacks on press freedom, ill-gotten wealth and among many others,” their statement read.
“We, the Filipino youth, demand for the ousting of President Rodrigo Duterte and the resignation of his incompetent and corrupt lackeys,” it continued.
The student councils also vowed to never again allow a dictatorship and never forget the atrocities committed under Martial Law by “protect[ing[ the truth against misinformation and revisionism.”
“Never again shall we allow such abuse against our motherland be repeated, and never shall we forget the brutality and horrors of the Marcos dictatorship,” the statement read.
The statement was signed by the presidents of the CSC and local student councils of UST.
It was published in solidarity with student councils of other Philippine schools, namely: Angeles University Foundation, Colegio San Juan de Letran, Holy Angel University, National Teachers College, Rizal Technological University, Southern Luzon State University, University of San Carlos, University of the Assumption, Central Luzon State University, Far Eastern University, University of the Philippines in Diliman, National University, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Nueva Caceres, and University of the East.
UST student councils’ social media pages carried profile and banner photos that stated “NEVER AGAIN, NEVER FORGET” and “UST NEVER FORGETS” in red letters.
UST also posted on social media an image of a lit candle with the words, “Our forgetfulness is their license,” accompanied by the caption, “Let us safeguard the sanctity of life and uphold the truth. #NeverAgain.”
