LAYOUT | Dyan Azaña, Layout Artist
Several unauthorized police trainees entered the Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (BUCSSP) - Daraga Campus, intimidating student participants and college sports players during the institution’s 21st Founding Anniversary on the afternoon of September 10.
The College Student Council (CSC) and student-led organizations are demanding better security protocols within the institution to prevent any forms of harassment and external surveillance of the stakeholders of the university.
Unauthorized Movements
They’re uniformed personnel. Complete set of a police uniform from top to their shoes, and some of them have patches on their arm stating trainees,"
a CSSP student who preferred to remain anonymous confirmed.
The first time I saw them, they entered at gate 6 since I saw them walking from Mahogany building to CSSP grounds, in front of the SoWo (Social Work) building. I noticed that they’re glancing at the game where basketball is ongoing,”
another event participant said.
According to one of the guards stationed at Gate 6, the trainees were allowed to enter the college’s premises only because of the assumption of using the comfort room. The police trainees were then seen buying coffees by the roaming guard, which reminded them that these are restricted.
Moreover, the trainees who were unfazed by the initial warning used the second possible entry point in the Daraga campus.
When the guards stationed on gate 7 were also asked by the CSSP CSC, they said that the questioned individuals were permitted simply because they were the police.
Neither of the two entry points ushered the police trainees to write in the logbook system provided.
“As the CSC, we believe that this is already an issue of security within the campus. Kasi parehong guard house ay walang nagpa-log book sa kanila,” Mx. Jane Claire Martinez, the 20th CSSP CSC President, asserted.
Ground for Studentry
It was also noted through reports that these involved personnel were also seen taking unsolicited photographs of the students.
Grievances of most concerned constituents are anchored to the inherent lack of their consent and authorization.
This prompted some BU College-Based Organizations (CBO), University-Based Organizations (UBO), and publications to release their solidarity statements to collectively address the unauthorized state forces’ intrusion.
These incidents share a common pattern of uncoordinated entry, unauthorized photography, and covert surveillance within academic spaces. Such acts create an atmosphere of intimidation that disrupts student activities and undermines the university’s role as a sanctuary of free thought and critical discourse,”
the BU University Student Council (USC) said in their statement.
The targeting of student councils, leaders, and even ordinary students is not new. For years, state forces have hounded campuses, using intimidation, vilification, and baseless accusations to stifle the voice of the youth,”
Rise for Education - Bicol University (R4E-BU) also remarked.
As multiple calls for proper accountability and students’ safety measures emerge, student organizations grounded their claim with citations of the student welfare rights emphasized by academic freedom, institutions’ regulations, the 2019 Revised BU Student Handbook, and even constitutional and statutory laws.
Down the Road
Another eyewitness, who wanted to affirm her anonymity, also shared her personal insights regarding the overall issue.
As a student, I feel that it is unsafe to have them inside the campus, especially since the college did not invite them or give permission for their presence. Their [appearance of] being there created an uncomfortable environment for students,”
the witness stated.
In the incident report spearheaded by the CSSP CSC, they also explicitly mentioned that at the time of entry, no prior notice was served to any of the University administration.
As of writing, both the CSC’s of CSSP and College of Business, Economics and Management (CBEM) are in the process of acquiring the only available official record of the unauthorized movement through the campus’ CCTV cameras installed on BU Daraga premises.
Student councils that took cognizance of the issue are continuously using their appropriate channels in the pursuit of collective student welfare.
*Originally published September 20, 2025
