THE students of Jose Maria College Foundation, Inc. (JMCFI) condemn the state-sponsored assaults on the right to education and academic freedom, and call on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Legal Education Board (LEB), and the Department of Education (DepEd) to take decisive action. The continued presence of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on our campus is an egregious violation of the constitutional guarantees to a safe and conducive learning environment.
JMCFI, a legitimate private educational institution, stands as a beacon of hope for over 1,000 scholars—students from marginalized communities who rely on our institution to access education and build a better future. These students are part of a diverse academic community that has produced exceptional professionals: lawyers, doctors, engineers, psychologists, and even police officers. Yet, their right to education is being trampled by the PNP’s unjust and intrusive presence on our campus, which has turned educational spaces into zones of fear, harassment, and intimidation.
We categorically condemn the PNP’s wanton display of power and abuse of authority, which suffocates the freedom to learn and undermines the pursuit of academic excellence. The disruption of classes, the invasion of our classrooms, libraries, and offices—these actions are an affront to our institution’s autonomy and a gross violation of our rights. The PNP’s actions have created a chilling effect that threatens not just JMCFI, but the very essence of education as a tool for empowerment.
We call on CHED, LEB, and DepEd to stand on the right side of history. Your silence amid these attacks on academic freedom and the right to education is complicit in emboldening these abuses. We demand immediate action to end this overreach and restore the sanctity of our campus. The inaction of our educational agencies sends a dangerous message—that the oppression of academic spaces is tolerable and that students’ fundamental rights are negotiable.
As enforcers of education policy, CHED, LEB, and DepEd must act now to protect institutions like JMCFI from state aggression. JMCFI is independent and separate from any religious affiliation, and this independence must be respected. DepEd’s National Policy Framework on Learners and Schools as Zones of Peace (DepEd Order No. 032, s. 2019) mandates that schools should be free from armed combatants and must remain safe spaces for learners. This policy must be enforced, not ignored.
We reaffirm our commitment to upholding the rule of law and defending the rights of students. We condemn these violations and urge CHED, LEB, and DepEd to assert their authority and ensure that no educational institution in the Philippines becomes a battleground for state power. We demand the protection of our right to education and the preservation of academic freedom.
Editor’s Note: This article has been sourced from The JMarian Facebook Page.
