DS students pull out from community practicum amid surveillance, intimidation by AFP’s 85th Infantry Battalion

The News Team

The third year students of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Development Studies (DS) program were pulled out from their community practicum program in Brgy. Silongin, San Francisco, Quezon after surveillance and intimidation by military forces despite having official documents and acknowledgment from the Local Government.

As part of their practicum course, junior DS students are being sent to various communities in the Philippines to live with the locals for at least a month, identify prevailing concerns and issues, and produce development plans for their respective communities.

However, four days into their community work in Quezon, two individuals suddenly entered their foster house and interrogated the students. The said individuals later identified themselves as members of the 85th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Nag-interrogate kung sino-sino kami, kailan kami dumating, hanggang kailan kami rito, at ano-ano pa ang aming mga ginagawa,” said the group of students in a press release.

Despite presenting official documents approved by the city mayor of San Francisco, Quezon, they were still intimidated by the members of the 85th IB because the military individuals insisted that they should have been informed in the first place. The IB members said they have been searching for the names of the students through other elements of the military in the area.

In addition, the students reported that the military personnel attempted to take photos of them, but they strongly resisted.

The students filed a formal blotter report to the barangay hall, which they said irked the military and resulted in persistent visits to their location.

After the incident, the students were withdrawn from their original community as the DS program looks for alternative strategies to fulfill the requirements of the practicum course.

In their press release, the concerned DS students strongly condemn the intimidation by the 85th IB not only to them and to their foster parents but also to the whole community of Brgy. Silongin, San Francisco, Quezon.

“Hindi terorismo ang pag-aaral ng lipunan, pagtindig sa karapatan, at pagbibigay-tulong sa mga komunidad. Bagkus, ito ay tungkulin ng mga tunay na iskolar ng bayan.”

Now challenging the UP administration, the DS students are calling for the restoration and institutionalization of the UP-DND accord, which they believe would be a safeguard of the UP community against the intensifying militarization of campuses.