Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Academic freedom includes the right of an academic institution to determine whom to admit and whom to exclude based on clear academic standards and norms of student conduct,” the secretary said.
Guevarra made the statement in light of the decision of the University of Sto. Tomas to dismiss Grade 12 student and UST High School Student Council member Datu Ampatuan Jr. for joining Anakbayan which is an organization that the school does not recognize.
He declined to comment if what UST did was justified.
“I cannot comment on the UST incident as I do not have all the facts before me,” he noted.
Published January 24, 2021, 8:58 PM
Two student activists from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) were reportedly served show-cause orders on Saturday for allegedly joining an unrecognized student organization.
This comes after the university dismissed Grade 12 student Datu Ampatuan, Jr. as head councilor of the UST-Senior High School Student Council for joining Anakbayan-UST.
He will also not be allowed to readmit at UST and will not receive a certificate of good moral character, which is a requirement for school enrollment and job applications.
Ampatuan’s dismissal has been the subject of criticism from several netizens online. Activists have staged both physical and virtual protests to call for an end to “student repression.”