06/09/2025
On UST's response to La Stampa's censorship issue
"We welcome the commitment of the UST SHS administration in addressing La Stampa's grievances, as it is long overdue. This progress should not reduce the fact that UST's repressive polices targeting the campus press and student activists are not an isolated case," Brell Lacerna, CEGP National Spokesperson stated.
"Campus press issues in our universities are reflected to the worsening education crisis brought by our colonial, commercialized, and repressive character of education, and the systemic crackdown against journalists all across the globe," Lacerna added.
"It is the duty of school administrators to cooperate, unite, and support their students in addressing genuine demands and concerns, all in the service of nation-building. We are your constituents, united in the fight for accessible and quality education. If our school administrators fail to uphold their commitment to protect press and academic freedom, students will exercise their right and responsibility to protest," Lacerna challenged.
"The Implementing Rules and Guidelines of the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 recognize that student publications serve as platforms to train students in advocating social consciousness, upholding the interests of the Filipino people, and advancing students' rights and responsibilities while promoting their overall welfare. If they are true to uphold freedom of expression, stop instilling fear and instead grant the genuine student demands of the Thomasian press and community. Absolve show cause orders against UST student leaders. Futhermore, we call on the Commission on Higher Education to investigate the rising repression cases in UST." Lacerna demanded.
In the 19th Congress, Kabataan Partylist filed a House Resolution to investigate UST Office of the Student Affairs actions after student leaders received show cause orders after staging a protest against censorship of TomasinoWeb last year. "The intensifying attacks on student journalists underscore the urgent need to pass the Campus Press Freedom Bill, which aims to secure editorial independence, ensure mandatory funding for student publications, and impose penalties on obstructive school administrators," Lacerna added.
"The campus press along with the community must courageously fight back against repression. Student publications must form and join alliances to strengthen its editorial independence, critical reportage, and people's campaigns. Freedom is not laid out on paper, nor given inherently. We must insist on being free in order to achieve its entirety." Lacerna ended.
Press Statement
September 9, 2025
For Immediate Release
Reference
Brell Lacerna
CEGP National Spokesperson
[email protected]
On UST's response to La Stampa's censorship issue
"We welcome the commitment of the UST SHS administration in addressing La Stampa's grievances, as it is long overdue. This progress should not reduce the fact that UST's repressive polices targeting the campus press and student activists are not an isolated case," Brell Lacerna, CEGP National Spokesperson stated.
"Campus press issues in our universities are reflected to the worsening education crisis brought by our colonial, commercialized, and repressive character of education, and the systemic crackdown against journalists all across the globe," Lacerna added.
"It is the duty of school administrators to cooperate, unite, and support their students in addressing genuine demands and concerns, all in the service of nation-building. We are your constituents, united in the fight for accessible and quality education. If our school administrators fail to uphold their commitment to protect press and academic freedom, students will exercise their right and responsibility to protest," Lacerna challenged.
"The Implementing Rules and Guidelines of the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 recognize that student publications serve as platforms to train students in advocating social consciousness, upholding the interests of the Filipino people, and advancing students' rights and responsibilities while promoting their overall welfare. If they are true to uphold freedom of expression, stop instilling fear and instead grant the genuine student demands of the Thomasian press and community. Absolve show cause orders against UST student leaders. Futhermore, we call on the Commission on Higher Education to investigate the rising repression cases in UST." Lacerna demanded.
In the 19th Congress, Kabataan Partylist filed a House Resolution to investigate UST Office of the Student Affairs actions after student leaders received show cause orders after staging a protest against censorship of TomasinoWeb last year. "The intensifying attacks on student journalists underscore the urgent need to pass the Campus Press Freedom Bill, which aims to secure editorial independence, ensure mandatory funding for student publications, and impose penalties on obstructive school administrators," Lacerna added.
"The campus press along with the community must courageously fight back against repression. Student publications must form and join alliances to strengthen its editorial independence, critical reportage, and people's campaigns. Freedom is not laid out on paper, nor given inherently. We must insist on being free in order to achieve its entirety." Lacerna ended.
Press Statement
September 9, 2025
For Immediate Release
Reference
Brell Lacerna
CEGP National Spokesperson
[email protected]
