Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino today filed House Resolution No. 272 condemning the violent dispersal of protesting high school students last August 20 at the Department of Education, Pasig City.

The resolution called on the lawmakers to “initiate legislative measures in order to ensure that the right of our students to air their legitimate grievances is secured.”

Around 50 high school students stormed DepEd to address their complaints regarding the collection of unjust fees in their schools and the proposed additional two years in secondary education. Yet a few minutes after the students arrived at the entrance of the building, security guards violently dispersed the students.

“Students came there with nothing but their interest to seek a dialog and yet they get hit with yantok sticks and security guard clubs. The students already ran away but the guards ran after them and beat them again. The grievances articulated by the students were perfectly sensible and completely legitimate.” said Palatino.

He adds, “If only they allowed the students to enter DepEd and conduct a dialog with the Secretary, the dispersal shouldn’t have happened. They were there because there is something in the education system that they find wrong and want to be addressed.”

The young lawmaker claimed that the dispersal was “overkill” after a guard allegedly pointed a gun to a student.

“Saan ka nakakita ng high school student na tinutukan ng baril ng security ng guard ng DepEd? They didn’t have to treat the students that way,” said Palatino.

Five of the students were seriously injured by the violent dispersal, all of which are minors.

The resolution also urges the DedEd “to file the proper administrative charges against the security personnel responsible for the brutal assault at the young students, and further urging the Secretary of Education to address the very legitimate grievance of the students regarding the imposition of exorbitant illegal fees in schools nationwide.”

“In previous attempts of youth and students to have a dialog with the DepEd secretary, no dispersals were conducted not until the incident. The dispersal is very characteristic of the previous administration. The new administration should review its protocol when it comes to dealing with protesting students.” ###