KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel on Wednesday condemned the reported harassment of University of San Carlos Senior High School students for joining the local chapter of a youth organization and participating in electoral campaign activities.

Manuel said the students were coerced into one-on-one interrogation meetings by an official of the USC SHS Student Activity Program.

“Hindi po lower life form ang senior high school students. May sariling isip at karapatan sila, at dapat protektahan ito. The USC SHS SAP official violated multiple sections of Cebu City’s own Student Rights and Welfare ordinance that assures the right to organize and free expression. The official also violated COMELEC Resolution No. 11116 against discrimination based on political belief. Ang mental health ng estudyante ang kawawa sa ganitong kalakaran,” Manuel pointed out.

“Sa repressive system of education ng bansa, di tayo nauubusan ng students’ rights violations. Gusto ba nung abusadong student activities official ng USC na maging topic din sa Kamara gaya ng former student affairs head ng UST?” Manuel asked.

“We hope the USC administration can meet halfway with our counterparts on the ground to work on a solution to this problem. Officials who harass, intimidate, and violate the rights of students should have no place in institutions of learning and youth development,” Manuel added.

The aggrieved students and Kabataan Partylist also plan to report the university official to Cebu City councilors and the regional offices of the Department of Education and Commission on Elections.