Neri jeered at UP

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman Romulo Neri was greeted by protesting students and professors at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City yesterday when he attended a meeting of the university’s Board of Regents.

Neri, as head of CHEd, is also the chairman of the UP Board of Regents. He was met with jeers by protesters who urged the official to tell the truth about the canceled $329-million national broadband network (NBN) contract between the government and ZTE Corp. of China.

Neri, a former director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, only smiled while he was heckled and walked casually to the Quezon Hall building to attend the meeting.

At least 60 demonstrators picketed in front of Quezon Hall, carrying placards calling for Neri’s resignation.

“Basically the protesters are asserting the position of the University Council calling for the resignation of Neri,” said student regent Shahana Abdulwahid.

“It was a very peaceful demonstration. It’s just a manifestation of the sentiments of the students, professors and workers at the university,” she said.

Professor Danilo Arao told The STAR that Neri got the message that he is not wanted in his alma mater. Neri is a UP graduate.

Arao said that Neri should brace himself for more protests when he visits any of the campuses of the UP system as well as other state universities such as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

“We want him to feel that he is not welcome in UP and in other state universities for his role in the government cover-up of the NBN-ZTE scandal,” Arao said. “We reiterate our call for Neri’s resignation as CHEd chairman.”  – With Reinir Padua