By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Members of the Progressive Igorots for Social action – Benguet State University Chapter (PIGSA) demand that the Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) to stop accusing them as recruiters of the New Peoples Army (NPA) and the vilification of progressive student organizations.

In a statement, PIGSA reiterates its condemnation to the vilification of progressive youth organizations such as PIGSA and the Salidummay cultural group. The student organization also holds the BSU administration specifically the OSA accountable for campus militarization.

On July 11 according to PIGSA accounts, six of its members and two staff of the Cordillera Youth Center (CYC) were having a meeting at the Shimumura Park in BSU on the requirements for their accreditation when two security personnel approached them and started interrogating and taking pictures of them. One of the men told them that they can not hold any activity in the campus since they have no permit from the OSA to use the place.

PIGSA coordinator Michelle Santos said that when they asked why they are the only ones being questioned by the two men while there are other students’ activities being held in the park in that same instant one of the security personnel told them to stop asking questions. She added that when they also asked why they are taking pictures of them, they replied that they will use it for their own consumption.

When the PIGSA members went to OSA Director Leonila R. Sito and requested for a dialogue on the said incident and the clearance of their names from the offense of failure to submit to university policies and requirements, Sito ignored their pleas and instead ordered them to bring their parents on July 31 so that the OSA can warn their parents of the kind of organization they joined.

According to Santos, Sito claims that military personnel went to her office and gave a list of names and organizations that are recruiting for the NPA in BSU. Included in the list are PIGSA and Salidummay. Sito also warned them that OSA will not issue them their Certificate of Good Moral Character if their alleged offense be formally filed.

The OSA head also ordered the PIGSA members to submit their written reports on why, when and how they were recruited.

“PIGSA remains firm on its stand that its six members have not committed any violation of the university policies, as the accreditation of organizations was to take place on July 13 while the activity in question occurred on July 11. Other than that, Shimumura Park is also supposed to be a public area,” read the statement.

The statement added that PIGSA has long been tagged as front organization and recruiter for the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front of the Philippines because of its progressive stands on issues concerning the youth and the people. The student organization also stated that the action of OSA towards its members is an evident example of campus repression and an abuse of power.

PIGSA is demanding that the BSU administration remove the presentation of Knowing Your Enemy from its curriculum in the National Service Training Program (NSTP) and Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC). According to Santos, they are also planning to file appropriate charges against the school head.#Aldwin Quitasol