Lightning rally mars Ermita speech in PUP graduation rites
A lightning rally staged by five students interrupted the 2008 commencement exercise of the graduating batch of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) where Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita served as its guest of honor.
Reports said that while Ermita was delivering his speech, the five students who were among the 4, 879 graduates stood up, went up front and displayed their banners containing anti-Arroyo slogans.
The incident however did not stop Ermita from reading his speech, reports said.
"Akala ko wine-welcome ako. I don’t take these things very seriously siyempre because mayroon lang gusto magpatawag-pansin," he said.
The activist graduates said the move was their way to protest against extrajudicial killings and alleged violation of human rights carried out by the Arroyo administration.
"Hindi kami nambastos. Pero sa amin, isang malaking kabastusan na magsasalita siya ng puro kasinungalingan, puro kabalastugan ng kanyang amo sa harap ng mga estudyante at ng mga iskolar ng bayan," said one of the activists.
Meanwhile, acting PUP president Dr. Dante Guevarra, in a statement, said that although the university respects the exercise of freedoms and even encourages the practice of academic freedom, the act done by the five students was "inappropriate, untimely and uncalled for."
"It was however quite unfortunate that five of the almost 5000 graduates expressed their sentiments during the time that a formal and solemn academic function was being held-- during the Year-end commencement exercises. I see this act inappropriate, untimely and uncalled for," said Guevarra.
Guevarra immediately called for a joint emergency meeting with PUP academic and administrative councils after the graduation rites.
He said the academic staff, faculty, officials, students and members of the 2008 graduating class "abhor and reject" what the five students did during the commencement exercise.
"For this reason, we will call the attention of these true-blooded "iskolar ng bayan", talk with them and counsel them as regards the inappropriateness of their action," Guevarra’s statement said. With reports from Paul Henson, TV Patrol World
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Topic: PUP Graduation Turned Into Rally (Read 935 times)