Student Christian Movement of the Philippines

NCCP Compound,  879 EDSA Quezon City

Mobile Number 09289526973     E-mail:  scmp.infomedia@yahoo.com

CONVENOR: TANGGULAN Youth Network for Civil Liberties and Human Rights

 For immediate release

NEWS RELEASE

February 1, 2008

 

Reference: Ma. Cristina Guevarra, secretary general, 09186106275

                   Biyaya Quizon, chairperson, 09289526973

 

Youth group demands immediate release of arrested students at Education Summit rally

YOUTH AND STUDENTS from the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines demanded the release of six student protesters who were illegally arrested by the police in a rally at the Education Summit yesterday.

 

The Christian youth group also cried foul over the police argument that the rallyists did not secure a permit.

 

"Aside from having a lame excuse for arresting the protesters, the police has illegally detained them for more than 24 hours. They also did not read to those arrested their Miranda rights," SCMP chairperson Biyaya Quizon said.

 

As of this posting, only one, Alvin Cerrano of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, has been released because he is a minor.  

 

At the opening of the government-sponsored Biennial Education Congress yesterday, student groups together with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) marched towards the Manila Hotel to condemn the non-inclusion of students in the Summit. They also raised current education issues like the anomalous Cyber-Education project, textbook scam and the yearly increases in tuition and miscellaneous fees that lead to a "wrecked education sector."

 

After a violent confrontation with the anti-riot police of the Manila Police District, the protesters retreated to Luneta Park. They were yet again violently dispersed while holding a small program, after recovering from the earlier incident. Six were arrested and illegally detained, while 23 individuals suffered from various injuries.

 

"Get real"

The youth group said that Arroyo should "get real" in addressing issues in education, as they marched again towards the Manila Hotel today.

 

"It's very simple: we protested because we are running out of classrooms. We are running out of books. Yet, we hear of the government diverting educations funds to anomalous deals like the NBN Deal and the Cyber-Education project. Isn't that enough reason to protest?" Quizon said.

 

The group also criticized the Education Summit as an attempt of the Arroyo government to cover up the real issues while "singing a litany of promises to the exploited teachers."

 

"Arroyo told the teachers that they are the real heroes, but she just addressed them by waving promises of salary increases and bonuses at their faces, and boasting of her Cyber-Ed project. She just showed again that she is a master of bribery," the youth leader said.

 

The students said the only way to address the issues on education is not to have an assessment, but an "overhaul" in the education system.

 

"Education officials have recognized the problems of Philippine education, but distorts their realities by covering them up with grandiose projects. If we are truly to resolve the crisis of Philippine education, it should first be provided to the majority of our youth, not only to a few who can pay. Arroyo definitely is not geared towards this. We shall gear for more protests," Quizon said. ###
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