THE CAVITE State University today denied claims that it suppressed students’ rights by allowing a military officer to ‘red-tag’  groups and individuals during a National Training Service Training webinar.

Some groups criticized the university after resource speaker Col. Erwin Alea of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict tagged several groups and individuals as ‘communist terrorists’ who allegedly recruit students to join the armed conflict.

The university said its focus is on education thus it is apolitical.

“Ang pamunuan ng pamantasan ay kailanman ay hindi nag-‘Red Tag’ sa sinumang indibiduwal o grupo sapagkat wala ito sa mandato ng pamantasan,” it said.

“Ang pamantasan ay hindi kailanman manghihimasok sa gawain ng ibang sektor na supilin ang karapatan ng mga mag-aaral, guro at empleyado sa loob ng pamantasan,” it added.

“Ang diumanong nangyaring ‘Red Tagging’ sa isang NSTP Webinar ay patungkol sa pangkalahatang pagsusuri at paglalatag ng impormasyon at hindi tumutukoy sa sinumang indibiduwal o grupo sa loob ng pamantasan,” it added.

The school said the statements of Alea were his own and do not reflect the views of the institution as a whole. It is up to the listeners whether to believe the speaker or not.

CvSU maintained that students are free to express themselves within the bounds provided by their Student Handbook.

The university’s Central Student Government earlier denounced Alea’s branding of several groups and individuals as terrorists.

“The Central Student Government-Main Campus stands our ground to be with the students and vehemently condemn the coherent attacks of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the Strengthened Alliance on Fight Against Illegal Drugs and Terrorism Cavite on mass organizations during the NSTP Orientation held today [October 24],” it said.