Veterinary students from Cebu Technological University (CTU)- Barili Campus in Cebu claimed they were being intimidated by their school administration after they complained about the illegal face-to-face class held there in March.

Speaking on behalf of the affected students, John Luis Gonzales, chairperson of the National Congress of Veterinary Medicine Students (NCVMS) said the school director confronted a student leader in public after learning on March 30 that the Commission on Higher Education regional office was investigating the matter.

The NCVMS learned of the incident from information provided by students in the college.

“Surprisingly, news got to the dean in the afternoon. And that is when she started confronting student leaders and ended up threatening them to fail their current subjects, which clearly steps on their academic right,” Gonzales said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday, April 6.

The confrontation happened on the same day NCVMS submitted a letter to CHED regional office, reporting about the illegal face-to-face class in CTU-Barili. NCVMS was informed of the issue on March 25 by an anonymous student from CTU-Barili.

“Paglabas ng letter, nagkaroon na agad ng confrontation si dean at ang ating isang student leader. Medyo sinigawan,” Gonzales added.

(When the letter was released, a confrontation happened between a student leader and the dean. She slightly raised her voice [at the student].)

Apart from threatening to give them failing marks, the students said the administration intimidated the students by saying they would be sued for libel and by looking for the anonymous student who tipped off the physical classes.

“Tactics to silence the student leaders were made: from blaming the victim, to scaring them by repeatedly bringing up possible cases of libel. Witch-hunt among the students to point who the anonymous person who brought this issue to our congress were also carried out,” Gonzales said.

“Nagkaroon din nang Zoom call. In the Zoom call, they emphasized na maaring makasuhan ng libelous cases yung mga estudyante. Which may also be seen as a way to silence the student leaders,” he added.

(There was a Zoom call. In the Zoom call, they emphasized that the students may be sued for libel. Which may also be seen as a way to silence the student leaders.)

Director denies threats

Dr Ruby Destajo, director of the College of Veterinary Medicine of CTU-Barili, said she did not attend the Zoom call referred by Gonzales. She also denied allegations of intimidation from the administration.

“As far as I know, there was no intimidation from the administration. CHED is already conducting their investigation,” she said.

When asked about the current state of the investigation, CHED regional director Max Aljibe said they have issued a show cause order to CTU.

“We issued a show cause order and CTU Pres reported to us [that] they stopped the said LF2F classes in Barili,” he told Rappler via text.

“The joint circular provides sanctions upon determination of a committee that will conduct the investigations. Meanwhile, the University President will have to take action on the issue,” he added.

Meanwhile, the faculty member who required students to attend classes physically had reportedly been dismissed by the school. The same faculty member also briefly held physical classes back in September 2020 before it was later told to stop.

Accountability

Despite the immediate move of the school administration to suspend the physical class, students said this was not enough. They were still pushing for accountability.

They said they were sent home without getting tested for the coronavirus disease and were not provided protective equipment during the face-to-face education, risking their health, as well as, their families’

“We continue the call for accountability because we want the students to be safe by having a formal resolution and a peaceful dialogue with the admin and CHED to make sure that this won’t be taken personally against them in the future again,” Gonzales said.

They demanded the free testing of students, professors, and non-teaching personnel. They also called for the proper representation of students in the university.

CTU-Barili College of Veterinary Medicine reportedly began holding unauthorized face-to-face classes on Tuesday, March 23. In Central Visayas, only two universities had been approved to resume physical classes: the Cebu Institute of Medicine and the University of Cebu School of Medicine. – Rappler.com