Students and administrators from various Manila schools join progressive and partylist groups in a protest at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Friday, calling for an end to poverty, corruption, and impunity amid the “deepening” rift between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. (Photo by Djenhard Yreneo Raphael Y. Sapanhila/ The Varsitarian)

STUDENTS and teachers from various schools trooped to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Jan. 31, calling for an end to “poverty, corruption, and impunity” amid mounting calls to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.

Assembled at the freedom park in front of the Manila Post Office, the protesters urged Filipinos to demand integrity, true public service, and accountability from elected officials, in particular Duterte and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

Apart from UST, representatives from De La Salle University Manila, and St. Paul University Manila joined the protest.

In a statement enjoining students to participate in the protest, the schools called for a united front in the education sector amid what they described as a “deepening” divide between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Duterte.

“The current political crisis in the country has only exposed the dire situation the nation finds itself in. And educators, whether as professors, teachers, school administrators, or education support personnel, are not immune to the worsening socioeconomic situation in the country,” the Jan. 29 statement posted on Facebook read. 

“We encourage that more public fora and informal discussions of sociopolitical issues be held, whether in schools or in communities.”

Among the signatories of the statement was Asst. Prof. Emerito Gonzales, president of the UST Faculty Union, DLSU President Bernard Oca FSC, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Faculty Association President Fe Bobadilla, and All UP Academic Employees Union National President Perlita Raña.

In her speech during the protest, Annie Agon, public relations officer of the Central Student Council (CSC), described Duterte as the polar opposite of UST’s ideals. 

Sa loob ng UST, pinahahalagahan ang mga prinsipyo ng compassion, commitment, competence, at integrity, na siyang mga pundasyon ng isang matuwid at makatarungang lipunan,” she said. 

Kung tinitignan natin ang mga aksyon ni Sara Duterte, malayo ang mga prinsipyong ito sa kaniyang mga ginagawa.”

The Liwasang Bonifacio protest, which coincided with demonstrations at the EDSA People Power Monument also calling for Duterte’s impeachment, forced some schools to adjust their learning modalities in anticipation of heavy traffic. 

Far Eastern University Manila and Makati shifted to an independent learning setup on Jan. 31, while Adamson University announced it would issue excuse letters to students who participated in the rally. 

Classes in UST proceeded as scheduled despite the Central Student Council’s call for an adjusted learning setup. According to Agon, the decision to push through with the scheduled classes was “due to the fact that class days are very much affected by the recent holidays.”

Thomasians who participated in the protest were instead encouraged to inform their course facilitators, as the Office of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs had instructed local academic units to be lenient with attendance.

Duterte faces three impeachment complaints for alleged graft, corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and misuse of public funds. At least one-third of House members must vote for the impeachment complaint for it to be transmitted to the Senate for trial.

A two-thirds vote of the Senate — 16 of its 24 members — is needed to remove Duterte from office.

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