Activists slam campus-surveillance plan

By CONG B. CORRALES
Associate Editor .

AN organization of student activists yesterday sounded alarm bells over an alleged pronouncement by the 4th Infantry Division’s spokesperson that the military would be entering campuses of universities in northern Mindanao supposedly to weed out radicals.

In a statement, Kristine Cabardo, chair of the League of Filipino Students in northern Mindanao, denounced Camp Evangelista spokesperson 1Lt. Teresita Ingente’s alleged announcement that the military would keep an eye on students inside campuses.

“Sa sulod lang sa karon nga tuig, aduna nay usa nga tinuuhang gipatay sa mga militar sa northern Mindanao. Aduna silay gipasaka nga mga tumu-tumong kaso batok sa mga aktibista ug mga sibilyan, lakip na ang illegal nga pag-aresto sa 13 ka mga magtutudlo ug mag-uuma sa Bukidnon,” Cabardo alleged.

She said Army’s plan would mean trampling on academic freedom and right to free speech.

Cabardo called the Armed Forces a “terrorist” that has been intimidating student activists who raise legitimate issues on education, including concerns on the lack of state subsidy for public institutions of learning.

She said a number of student activists here have been subjected to harassment, red-tagging and black propaganda by the military.

Cabardo said, “Walay sayop sa pagbarog sa katungod. Walay sayop sa paglubog sa kabatan-onan ngadto sa mga mag-uuma ug lumad. Walay sayop sa pagsukol. Adunay sayop busa gabarog ug padayon nga musukol ang kabatan-onan.”