Freedom

(KAISA statement on 2005 CRSRS)

At long last, broken are the chains of tyranny and deceit.

Tyranny is a foul evil, but tyranny masquerading as freedom is far worse. The Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP) was an alliance of student councils established to advance reform through representation and democratic participation of UP students. It succeeded in this through the creation of the Office of the Student Regent, the sole student representative in the highest policy making body of the UP System, the Board of Regents. Its history is rich with examples of noble sacrifice to realize the lofty ideal of democratic participation through free discourse and involvement.

Alas, it was this same ideal that KASAMA sa UP would eventually betray, in its corrupt and degenerate state as the captive of a political bloc. As the tyrant that it became, it seized control of the Office of the Student Regent, by manipulating the selection process, and entrenching itself in the Codified Rules for Student Regent Selection (CRSRS). Firmly established in the system, it imposed its own political ideology on student councils, to perpetuate itself and crush all opposition. It prevailed despite several attempts to reform the process and the CRSRS. KASAMA sa UP remained unchallenged, until recently, when it found itself in the minority of the General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC).

Yet again, sweeping reforms of the selection process and the CRSRS challenged KASAMA sa UP, but unlike in earlier years, it was at a significant disadvantage, being the minority. Three key proposals threatened its tyrannical hold: addition of a minimum academic requirement for SR nominees; the removal of KASAMA sa UP from the CRSRS; and a new voting mechanism to allot one vote per student council. Thus, it was predictable for KASAMA sa UP to behave as it did.

Through SR Ken Leonard Ramos, KASAMA sa UP sought to undermine and sabotage the proceedings to amend the CRSRS. With Ramos' failure and refusal to preside over the proceedings properly and KASAMA sa UP members' filibustering and other delaying tactics, it took two days to adopt and ratify House Rules in UP Cebu. The GASC was then resumed in UP Diliman to tackle the proposals. Here Ramos consistently prevented the adoption of the key proposals, by not allowing the division of the house. Consequently, the majority was not able to vote. The GASC spent almost two days without acting on any major amendments. The intense clamor of the majority to be heard and allowed to vote, and the attempts of the minority to prevent it led to the breakdown of the proceedings. Ramos, in clear violation of parliamentary procedure and the House Rules, unilaterally adjourned the session, while KASAMA sa UP members barged in the session floor to stage a rally, in blatant mockery of the GASC. All delegates and observers were then dismissed.

Undaunted by their seeming failure to accomplish anything, the student councils forming the majority of the GASC nevertheless resumed the proceedings by appointing an acting presiding officer and moving to Teachers' Village. Since they formed a quorum as required by the House Rules, the GASC resumed the deliberations on the pending proposals, and adopted the three key proposed amendments as the 2005 CRSRS.

In light of the foregoing, KAISA - Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayan expresses its full and unwavering support for the 2005 CRSRS as amended and ratified by the GASC.

We strongly uphold the legitimacy of the amended 2005 CRSRS. The GASC then convened at Teacher's Village consisted of a quorum as defined by their House Rules. The acting presiding officer of the proceedings was duly elected by this quorum. Therefore, the actions of the assembly are in all counts official and legitimate, as their House Rules, established parliamentary procedure, and the minutes of the proceeding will show.

We are appalled at the inability and incompetence of SR Ramos, who failed miserably to preside over the GASC. Were it not for his stubborn reluctance – or refusal – to allow the GASC to vote on the proposals, the CRSRS would have been amended more speedily. Furthermore, we condemn the utter disrespect of parliamentary procedure and decorum shown by KASAMA sa UP members, some of whom include members of the UP Diliman University Student Councils. We expected more from our elected leaders. We were bitterly disappointed.

We fully support the progressive and democratic reforms enshrined in the 2005 CRSRS. We believe that these reforms will advance genuine student representation and democratic participation through the Office of the Student Regent. Significantly, the removal of a political alliance with vested interests from the selection process will open avenues that will allow maximum participation from student councils and their constituents.

We reaffirm our committment to the lofty ideal of democratic participation through free discourse and involvement. We firmly believe and seek to realize the principles of the original KASAMA sa UP. We understand that its noble history is a history of victories for the Filipino youth, which we aspire to emulate. The chains of tyranny that once bound us may be broken, but our struggle continues.

Uphold the reforms enshrined in the 2005 CRSRS!
Safeguard the victories of the Filipino youth!
Continue the struggle for democratic participation and genuine student leadership!