NAFARETTE (Army)
ILOILO CITY – Student and youth organizations opposed
Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete as speaker in the recognition program for graduating students of the West Visayas State University (WVSU) main campus here.
Student publication Forum Dimension reported that Nafarrete was selected to speak on Wednesday, June 3, in the program.
The WVSU University Student Council, the League of Filipino Students-WVSU, and Samasa-WVSU rejected Nafarette due to alleged human rights violations of the Philippine Army, especially the killing of 19 people during an operation against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Toboso, Negros Occidental last April. They said Nafarrete also personally awarded two soldiers wounded in the encounter.
The WVSU defended inviting Nafarrete, an Ilonggo and alumnus. “He is a distinguished alumnus of the WVSU Laboratory School and a public servant. His nomination went through the process of selection by the University Senior Curriculum Council representatives and the Graduation Committee,” said WVSU said in a statement released Monday, June 1.
“His presence is not an endorsement of any political position or agenda. WVSU remains steadfast in its commitment to academic freedom, human dignity and opposes any form of intimidation and oppression,” WVSU added.