ANAKBAYAN on Wednesday condemned the cyberbullying and death threats against Stephen Villena, a student from the University of the Philippines Los Baños who was accused of “raising his voice” when he asked Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte about his budgetary priorities if he was elected president.
“Villena and other young Filipinos always welcome opportunities to meet and ask candidates while aspirants attend or hold public events to reach and convince more voters,” said Vencer Crisostomo, the group’s national chairman.
“Forums such as the one held in UPLB are thus important, and attendees should always be free from all sorts of intimidation and threats.”
Crisostomo said what happened after the UPLB forum should not happen again.
“We call on Mayor Duterte, who is portrayed as a disciplinarian, to control and restrain some of his most ardent supporters,” Crisostomo said.
“All candidates and their supporters should welcome the freest and widest possible discussions and debates.”
Crisostomo said Villena had not been impolite at all. He merely reminded Duterte of his own desire to soon finish the forum as he asked the candidate to provide him a straight answer to his question.
“We must join Villena in asking Duterte and all presidential candidates the impolite and stupid question about their plans for education,” Crisostomo said.
“That’s the least we can do on behalf of the likes of Kristel Tejada and Jessaven Lagatic—state scholars who ended their lives due to the rising cost of education.”
Crisostomo said young Filipinos should emulate Villena and continue to ask questions about the many important issues facing the sector and the nation—issues that had largely been ignored in the 2016 campaign.
“Our elders and the majority look up to young Filipinos—especially the educated—to participate in the process but not as trolls, hooligans or thugs loyal to any candidate and allergic to any hint of criticism,” Crisostomo said. Sandy Araneta
“We thus find it absurd and unacceptable that the candidates’ fanatical supporters wish to control and undercut public discussions through threats and intimidation.
“We urge the candidates to meet with more young people and show them in words and in deed the value of free speech and free expression whether in or out of election season.”
