UP students stage protest action, block board of regents meeting

MANILA, Philippines - Students of the University of the Philippines in Diliman staged a protest action inside the campus yesterday denouncing how students are allegedly being denied representation in the Board of Regents (BOR) meetings.

The students prevented officials from entering the Quezon Hall and even hurled paint-filled plastic bags at UP Los Banos Chancellor Louis Velasco and his vehicle.

School officials were reportedly planning on discussing plans to impose graduation and laboratory fees for students.

The protesters, along with some doctors, objected to the idea along with the recent appointment of UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) director Enrique Domingo, considering that Dr. Jose Gonzales was the one elected by the BOR for the post in December 2009.

Velasco expressed dismay over how the students acted, particularly on how they threw paintballs at him and his vehicle just to stop the BOR meeting from happening.

Students vowed to also stage protest activities at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) office to air their grievances.     – Michael Punongbayan