UP president calls Abad mobbing 'disturbing'

MANILA, Philippines — The president of the University of the Philippines (UP) on Monday urged students to observe "civility and respect for those who hold the opposite view" while condemning the mistreatment of Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad last week.

Alfredo Pascual called the incident "disturbing" and said Abad "should have been accorded the courtesy and respect due to all guests of the university."

"UP does not condone the use of violence in any manner against any person, be it a member of the university community, a visitor, or a government official," Pascual said in a statement.

The student activists and companions railed against Abad's Disbursement Acceleration Program and reportedly hurled placards, crumpled papers and coins at him during a visit to the Diliman campus on Wednesday.

Abad was guest speaker at a forum organized by the University Student Council and the UP School of Economics to discuss the proposed university project. He was mobbed on his way out of the building.

"Once I began approaching the STAND UP group ... the protesters—who were around 50 to 60 strong—did not engage me in dialogue. Instead, they surrounded me aggressively as I made my way toward the vehicle. I had objects thrown at me, and one student even attempted to grab me by the collar," Abad said in a statement.

WATCH: Butch Abad mobbed at UP Diliman

Pascual noted that the students and faculty should indeed lead the debate on issues confronting the country and uphold "time-honored tradition of dissent vis-a-vis questionable government policies."

He insisted, however, that the involvement of UP as a national university in issues should not only be articulated with passion but requires "evidence-based and reasonable arguments."

"Abusive words and deeds have no place in the hallowed grounds of the University," Pascual said.

He said UP Diliman started its investigation on the incident, including the participation of people not affiliated with the university but were part of the mob.