TUGUEGARAO CITY (Dec. 10) — A university president’s son, a janitor and two others believed to be hired goons reportedly mulled two student leaders of the Cagayan State University (CSU) after the duo hung two protest streamers at a waiting shed opposite the university’s main gate on December 7.

Richard Perez, son of Dr. Roger Perez, CSU president was seen by witnesses to have allegedly signaled the assault on Alexander de la Paz II and Jess Marie Acoba, both student leaders of CSU, who admitted having hung streamers calling for the older Perez’es ouster.

“This has enraged the administration to react in full defiance of existing laws and conduct on the proper handling of conflicts within the university,” Acoba told Nordis.

A few minutes after the two students entered the campus, university guards dragged them out apparently upon orders of Perez, who appeared with university Vice-president Perfecto Vivit before the students were completely forced out off campus. Other school officials blocked the way out and shouted at them “Ulol!”

“The president pushed dela Paz and tried to grab his bag. He even ordered the guards to drag the two students out,” a witness who opted for anonymity said.

“After arguing, the two students have made their way out and immediately ordered food in a canteen adjacent to the gate of the university. Four men appeared before them just as soon and without a word, two of the men drew out handguns, loaded and pointed them to Dela Paz’s and Acoba’ heads,” the Nordis source recounted. Other students who happened to be eating their lunch were also threatened not to meddle. Without a second, the four men threw several blows to dela Paz’s and Acoba’s heads. The assault only stopped when Perez, who suddenly appeared, ordered “Tama na…”. The four perpetrators immediately escaped with a van while Perez went inside the campus.

“While wiping their bloody faces before witnesses, dela Paz and Acoba condemned the blatant repression inflicted by Perez and his men.

Some witnesses identified the perpetrators, saying “The first man who drew his gun and signaled the assault was Richard Perez, son of Dr. Roger Perez, the university president. The other man was Rodrigo Maguigad, a janitor of the university. The two other men were believed to be goons of the Perez’es.”

Dela Paz is the former governor of the student body and a member of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) while Acoba is a Political Science student # Angela Malicdem for NORDIS