NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (NUSP)
 
PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2008 
 
Detained students released; Vow to press charges vs. MPD

The Western Police District released at 3:00 this afternoon the six students arrested during the violent dispersal of the student protest against the education summit held at the Manila Hotel.

According to Alvin Peters, national president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), one of the main organizers of yesterday's protest, the students were eventually released with all charges dropped pending further investigation.

“Had it not been for our consistent protests and collective action, our fellow student leaders would probably still be detained,” Peters said.

“We also express our deepest appreciation to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim for eventually intervening and helping to expedite their release,” he added.

NUSP along with other student organizations CEGP (College Editors Guild of the Philippines), League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan, SCMP (Student Christian Movement of the Philippines) and Kabataang Pinoy staged yesterday's protest to criticize the government's 'anti-student' education policies. They were also joined by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

Meanwhile, students from the Southern Tagalog Region also participated in the student rally held earlier today at the Manila Hotel; while students from Mindano simultaneously held a Mindanao-wide walkout of classes.

“We have every right to air our grievances regarding the worsening crisis in education especially since we were deliberately excluded from participating in the education summit. But instead of listening to us, all we got in return was brutal violence from the government.”

“We are determined to file the necessary criminal and administrative charges against the police involved and their respective commanders. We also intend to maximize all agencies, such as the Commission on Human Rights and other human rights agencies. We want to teach the police a lesson. What happened yesterday should not happen to innocent youth and students again. We were treated worse than common criminals.”

Peters announced that they would hold a press conference tomorrow to announce their critique of the education summit and to present their '8-point Education Reform Agenda.' ###

Reference;
Alvin Peters, NUSP National President
Mobile No.: 09206209362