UP expresses grief over deaths of 2 students killed in Negros; backs CHR probe
The University of the Philippines (UP) has expressed sorrow over the deaths of two of its students who were killed, along with 17 others, during a military operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental last week.
The university identified the students as Alyssa Alano and Maureen Santuyo in a statement released on Monday, April 27.
UP said it is extending assistance to bring home their remains so their families and communities may “pay their respects with dignity.”
“We are deeply saddened by the death of UP students Alyssa Alano and Maureen Santuyo. They were killed along with several others in a military operation conducted last week in Toboso, Negros Occidental,” the university said.
UP also said it supports the initiative of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to carry out an “independent, transparent, and thorough investigation” into the circumstances of the incident.
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It also called on government agencies to cooperate with the probe “in the interest of justice.”
The university also appealed to the public to refrain from immediate judgment regarding the presence of its students in underserved communities.
“No UP student is limited to lessons learned within the classroom,” the statement read.
It added that while initial reports indicate the two were engaged in community activities for their respective organizations and not under university-sanctioned programs, the university upholds the right of students to “lawfully and peacefully exercise their constitutionally protected freedoms, especially in furtherance of raising their social consciousness.”
“The University shall remain a beacon of critical thinking, conscience, and courage,” it added.