PRESS RELEASE
August 22, 2010
Badly injured HS students demand justice for violent DepEd dispersal

The swollen bruises and broken bones of high school students who were violently dispersed had now fully appeared a few days after security personnel of the Department of Education swung their bamboo sticks at hapless young students who were only demanding a legitimate right – the immediate return of previously collected public school fees in violation of the Department of Education’s ‘No Collection Policy’.

“While demanding justice for our very violent dispersal, we reiterate our call for the immediate refund of school fees collected by our schools, and our opposition to the planned 12-year basic education curriculum of the DepEd.” This was the statement of Ivan Bonostroso, the badly injured leader of the high school students who marched to the Department of Education. His head had been smashed with brass knuckles by a security personnel, along with four others whose heads were similarly smashed, notwithstanding one with a broken forearm.

“We will press charges against the Department of Education, and its security agency, Commander, for the injuries sustained by the high school students, and violating their right to peaceably assemble for redress of their grievances.” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, national chairperson of the League of Filipino Students.

Ridon said the high school students will be pressing charges of multiple counts of serious and slight physical injuries, and grave threats. Child abuse may also be filed against those involved.

“Despite our injuries, we will never hesitate to militantly return to the Department of Education to hold it accountable not only for damaging our persons, but for its policies that had never benefited us high school students.” Bonostroso finally said.