Student activist Raven Racelis clapped back at Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., saying it was “hypocritical” of the Cabinet official to label her “bastos” (disrespectful) amid what she described as continuing human rights violations by state forces.
“Napaka-hypocrite na manggaling sa defense secretary ‘yung salitang ‘bastos,’” Racelis told the Varsitarian.
Racelis accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police of being “numero unong nangbabastos sa karapatang pantao ng mamamayang Pilipino.”
Racelis said her exchange with Air Force personnel inside the University stemmed from questions about military operations in Mindoro and Negros Island, including bombings and strafing incidents linked by activists to civilian deaths.
“Ano ba ‘yung ginawa ko, no? All throughout the conversations I’ve had with this AFP personnel inside our University, tinatanong ko lang naman kung anong kinalaman nila sa pagbobomba nila sa Mindoro,” she said.
Racelis said she also asked whether the Air Force equipment exhibited on campus on April 21 had been used against civilians, activists, and peasant organizers.
“Ano ang sinabi sakin, isa daw akong bastos, isa raw akong komunista, parte lang daw ako ng maka-kaliwang grupo na nanggugulo kaya umalis na lang daw ako,” she recalled.
Teodoro later reacted to Racelis’s confrontation with the Air Force personnel, which went viral.
“So ako, walang justification ‘yan. Talagang kabastusan lang ’yon,” Teodoro told reporters covering the opening of a military exercise with the US on April 24.
READ: Defense chief hits activist in viral confrontation with Air Force personnel
Racelis also disputed Teodoro’s claim about her supposed eight-year academic stay in UST, clarifying that she had been in the University for six years, including senior high school.
She also criticized the University’s silence on alleged red-tagging and threats against her.
“Ni minsan ba nagsalita ang UST hinggil sa mga death threats, red-tagging against sakin? Wala,” she said.
Her remarks came during the “Araw ng Paniningil,” a protest led by students from universities across the U-Belt, denouncing what they described as a worsening economic crisis, widespread corruption, intensified military operations, and rising attacks under the Marcos administration, while calling for justice for the “Toboso 19” killed in a recent Negros Occidental military operation.
