MANILA - The University of the Philippines is open to all political beliefs, an official said Wednesday as it drew criticism after Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and the now defunct Kabataan Barangay held a reunion at its Quezon City campus.

The gathering of the youth organization formed by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the governor's father, was "an insult" to the struggle of UP students against the alleged oppression and killings

under his regime, said UP Diliman Student Council chair Yael Toribio.

The Kabataan Barangay's reunion was held at the UP Bahay ng Alumni, whose rentals are handled by the UP Alumni Association, confirmed the university's Vice President for Public Affairs Butch Dalisay.

"I can only presume that the proper representations were made and the fees paid for the use of the facility for this private event," he told ABS-CBN News' website.

"As a public university, UP is open to the expression of all political beliefs and persuasions," he added.

Gov. Marcos had chaired the Kabataan Barangay on the order of her father, who is a graduate of the UP College of Law.

Her appointment in the youth council was questioned at a public forum in August 1977 by Archimedes Trajano, then a 21-year-old student of the Mapua Institute of Technology.

Witnesses said Marcos' guards forcibly took Trajano out of the venue. His body was found days later on a street in Manila.