Press Release
February 25, 2009

Guilds of Student writers and leaders want EDSA defector ousted!

Cotabato City- A guild of student writers based in Greater Cotabato wants GMA be ousted
before 2010. The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)- Greater Cotabato Area
formation comprise chapters of student publication and writers in Cotabato City, Kidapawan
City, Midsayap, Kabacan and Maguindanao stage a protest rally here today heightening
its call for Arroyo’s removal after several issues confronted the youth and education sector
during the start of this year.

The Guild labeled Gloria Arroyo as defector of EDSA people power uprising for having
approved and implemented various anti-people policies such as CPR, EO 464 and Human
Security Act among others.

“Student writers are one with the country’s journalists denouncing insecurity and disrespect
to press freedom under GMA administration. Philippines has been listed as the second
risky place for journalists in the world. Even in the campus level, campus press is
continuously experiencing harassments from different perpetrators” said Michelle Tirol,
guild’s general secretary.

Tirol vehemently condemned the malicious “profiling” of a certain Napoleon Aragones of
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to Bai Ali Indayla, former chief editor of
the TORCH student publication in Cotabato City State Polytechnic College. Mr. Aragones
allegedly “collected” various issues of the publication including its literary folio and personal
background of Ms. Indayla as part of his surveillance work.

“The CEGP laments that despite the attacks to mainstream media even to the campus
writers and leaders, Arroyo’s administration still has no political will to cease and resolve
this problem. Nobody should be blame if one would be subjective that there is Malacanan
consent on the attacks to press freedom” Tirol added.

The group also counted the latest incident of killing to a certain radio commentator in
Ozamiz City.

SAMAKANA or Samahan para sa Kagalingan at Karapatan ng Estudyante an alliance of
students in Cotabato City State Polytechnic College also denounce the plan of several
private higher institutions to increase its tuition and miscellaneous fees for the school year
of 2009-2010. The group urges the Malacanan to intervene on the said plan considering that
it might weigh down more to Filipino masses who suffer effects of global economic crisis.

“All student leaders must stand with the democratic rights and welfare of studentry.
Another increase in our tuition will be a burden to our families and will keep our education
more inaccessible to poor ones and may balloon the drop-out rates. Hence, what is more
important is that we should voice-out the NO to TFI sentiments of studentry and the
consultation process, if there is any case, must not be violated” Alibasit Macar,
SAMAKANA spokesperson concluded.

The groups stressed that after EDSA 2001, GMA has broken the hopes and dreams of
Filipino people to be freed from poverty, food insecurity, unemployment and poor education
stating that present administration is more corrupt, fascist and insincere.

As for the issues confronting youth and education sectors they foresee that youth and
student will more strengthen its unity with the Filipino masses for GMA ouster. ***

For reference: Michelle Tirol/ Alibasit Macar
09184944387/ 09262848954