KSU students' school project gone wrong

Tabuk City, Kalinga – College students of Kalinga State University with placards depicting a protest rally, allegedly as part of a school project, went terribly wrong when they gathered in front of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Bulanao this November 3, 2020 to have their taping.

The students were mistaken as anti-government protesters.

According to a university source, there was mis-coordination and miscommunication which resulted to a mistake that was quickly misinterpreted.

In an interview with Kalinga Police Provincial Director PCOL Davy Vicente Limmong, he said they received a report in the afternoon of said date about students who were carrying placards with words such as imperialism, no to martial law, and tyranny.

They gathered in front of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan at around 12:00 noon which prompted the security guard to intervene. Since it was reported hours after the incident, Limmong said they didn’t have the chance to immediately and personally ask these students about their motive.

“Diyay iti haan nga nadamag nu anya ti purpose da, nu anya iti ipaglaban da ta di sinita da suda ket inbati da dagiay placards da ket pinmanaw da met,” he said.

The Kalinga Police Provincial Director further said that the incident is now under verification as to what prompted these students to do it, whether it is part of a school activity or a real protest rally.

Nevertheless, Limmong is calling on the public, the youth to be more vigilant especially in joining any group or meeting. According to him, youth are more vulnerable to recruitment and indoctrination since they are more energetic, passionate, and idealistic.

“We are a free country naman, we have the freedom to voice out what we need but it should not be in a way nga somebody has to manipulate what we are doing for their own benefit,” he said.

“Diyay kuma iti kitaen da nga ustu ta we don’t want nga more people karkaru dagiay youth that against their will later, ket adda da ijayen [mountains]. Once nga adda da ijayen, marigatan [dan] to get out from there or they might be under threat or whatever,” he added.