ILOILO CITY –– Hundreds of students of the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas joined a walkout in Iloilo on Tuesday against plans to deploy policemen and soldiers in their campuses.

The students, mostly wearing black, walked out from their classrooms at 11:30 p.m. at the UPV campuses in Iloilo City and Miag-ao town as part of the UP system-wide protest.

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In Iloilo City, students gathered the lobby of the College of Management building before marching to the UP Oblation where a program was held.

“Activists are not terrorists,” several of their placards read.

At the Miag-ao campus, students assembled at the College Union Building and held a protest in front of the College of Arts and Sciences building.

They condemned statements of former Philippine National Police chief and Senator Roland dela Rosa and police officials pushing for policemen and soldiers in school campuses purportedly to stop the recruitment of students by New People’s Army rebels.

The protesters said this would only lead to the violation of rights of students and teachers and is an affront to academic freedom.

The protesters are also opposing the review of an agreement between the Department of National Defense and University of the Philippines which prohibits police and military operations in UP campuses without the approval of school officials.

The protest actions were supported by UPV officials who endorsed the activities. /lzb

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