February 15, 2008
News Release

Reference:
Alvin Peters, National President, 09206209362

Student councils unite in clamor for truth and accountability
Lead own contingent in Ayala rally today

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) led participants from different colleges and universities around Manila in the Ayala rally today.

Some 20 student councils, including student regents from two of the biggest state universities, the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), expressed solidarity with business groups, the church and other people’s organizations in the clamor for truth and accountability in light of the ZTE controversy.

The NUSP said student participants in the rally hail from the UP, PUP, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Sto. Tomas, St. Scholastica’s College, Miriam College, Assumption College, UP Manila, University of the East, Philippine Christian University, Lyceum, Adamson University, Far Eastern University, Trinity College and some high school students from HACKer (High School Students’ Alliance against Cyber Kurakot), an alliance opposed to the controversial RP-China Cyber Education Project.

The NUSP is a convenor of YOUTH REVOLT (Against Corruption and Tyranny), a broad network of youth and students calling for Pres. Gloria Arroyo’s resignation.

The NUSP is the oldest alliance of student councils in the Philippines. It has 600 member student councils to date nationwide.

“This is just the beginning of more widespread student participation in the protests. Student councils are becoming increasingly restive, asking us how they could lend their voices and efforts in our collective clamor for truth and accountability of government,” said Alvin Peters, NUSP national president.

Peters said the students joined the rally in their own volition. “Student councils, in their own capacity, are independent and autonomous of school administrations,” he said, pertaining to students from some Catholic schools that participated in the rally even as their school administrations are still ‘carefully discerning the issue.’

“But it would, of course, be much better if students have the support of their respective administrations. It is in this light that we appeal to Catholic schools to allow and encourage their students to heed the CBCP’s call for moral and communal action,” Peters said.

National student boycott?
Peters said that they are seriously contemplating the possibility of a national student boycott of classes in the days to come. “There is an overwhelming urge among students nationwide to collectively and as a sector express their indignation against corruption. We will announce (it) in due time if it pushes through.”

Peters announced that student representatives would troop to the Senate on Monday to attend the ongoing ZTE hearings. Daily lunchtime protests are also scheduled in defferent schools next week. (end)