PAHAYAG
PNP List of High-Risk Schools Baseless, Unfair —NUSP

MILITANT STUDENTS recently hit the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its statement naming Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), University of the Philippines (UP), Far Eastern University (FEU), University of the East (UE) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) as being high-risk to terrorist attacks because of the presence of militant groups.

Raymond Palatino of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) said the PNP list of high-risk schools is baseless and unfair to militant groups.

"The PNP has malicious motives in linking possible terrorist attack with the presence of militant groups. Before this illogical argument gain more believers, let it be said that the militant students plus big university equals high-risk school equation is far from the truth and exists only in the peacock-sized brains of the police," said Palatino.

The NUSP leader accused the PNP of using the terror scare as an excuse to justify their increased visibility and presence inside Metro Manila's big universities.

"A few months ago, National Security adviser Roilo Golez branded militant organizations in various universities as the breeding ground of communist sympathizers. This pathetic line of thinking may help explain the PNP statement about the high-risk schools. The looming increased presence of police personnel in our schools may more than be a move to prevent terrorist attack, but also to check the growing influence of militant organizations," remarked Palatino.

The NUSP warns of more suppression of democratic rights of students in the schools mentioned by the PNP. "Even before the terror scare has hit the country, students from FEU, UE and UST have been complaining about repressive policies in their campuses. Security personnel armed with big guns, surveillance cameras and prison-like regulations inside these schools have almost muted the freedom of expression and democratic rights of the students. We worry less of terrorism but more of the attacks on our basic rights by our school officials and the police," said Palatino.

"Incidentally, in the long history of UP as an open and free academic community, the greatest threat to its security has come from the military and police. The PNP may be itching to restore its presence in this open and freedom-loving campus," added Palatino.

However, the student leader also admitted that the five schools mentioned by the PNP are indeed high-risk to terrorist attack. But Palatino clarified that "these schools are high-risk to terrorist attacks in the same way we would say that all schools, malls, and churches are prone to bombings because they are crowded. In the case of schools located in the University Belt area, they are susceptible to terrorist bombings because of their proximity to Malacanang, and not because of the presence of militant groups."

Palatino hit the PNP of sowing fear for the wrong reasons. He said the PUP is most prone to terrorist attacks because it is located near the oil depot in Pandacan. He added that the PNP should focus more in looking into the possibility of possible terrorist actions against foreign students enrolled in the country.

"We have a big number of foreign students enrolled in Manila's big universities. Since the target of the Bali bombing were foreigners, if the PNP is really bent in preventing terrorism then the bulk of its work must be on how to protect foreign students enrolled in the country and not insinuate a link between terrorism and activism," declared Palatino.

Palatino also said that the presence of militant groups is a boon in the fight against terrorism. "Organized students can be mobilized faster and more efficiently. More militant students in a university means lesser risk of a terrorist attack."

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