THE Makabayan bloc on Monday denounced the violent dispersal of a protest action by students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines raising concerns over the National Polytechnic University bills being deliberated in the House Committee on Higher Education.

Students were chased by personnel from the Quezon City Police District Station 6 with truncheons and riot shields from one side of the perimeter of Batasang Pambansa Complex to another and were eventually cornered and dispersed brutally.

Reports said that at least seven protesters suffered wounds and bruises.

Students organized the rally to support provisions mandating a higher budget allocation for PUP under the NPU bills while calling on legislators to strike down provisions allowing PUP to enter into joint ventures with private entities for profit which will spur privatization, fee impositions, and other problems affecting their right to education.

“We raise alarm over the escalating aggression exercised by the PNP against students, drivers, and other fellow Filipinos raising legitimate concerns. It is overkill to deploy a legion of riot police against civilians who merely wish to freely express their concerns over policy matters being deliberated by lawmakers,” solons said.

The group of lawmakers also reminded that the constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression should always be protected and upheld, unconditionally.

“Police personnel involved in such acts of brutality, especially commanding officials should be held accountable,” they said.