SC chief surprised by blitz protest at UP graduation

MANILA, Philippines – Some students of the University of the Philippines Manila staged a blitz protest right on stage at their own graduation rites on Friday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), a surprise event that GMA cameras caught and aired over 24 Oras, the network's early evening newscast. The move, however, only momentarily surprised the protesters' schoolmates, who have had a long tradition of activism. This was probably on the minds of UP officials, who just let the students say their piece – as an amused Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the guest speaker, looked on. Cops and security men stationed inside PICC tried to stop snatch the banners but after a brief scuffle they decided to let the students go on with their protest. "Fight for Social Justice & Meaningful Change" was the slogan the students had on the banners they raised, as they chanted protest slogans, including a demand for President Gloria Arroyo to resign. Puno himself had just exhorted the graduating students to always respect the rights of others, especially the poor, saying: "To be from UP is to accept a sacred trust of leadership and service to the people." In an interview with GMA's JP Soriano after the graduation rites, Puno said: "I was surprised, but I guess that's part of the UP tradition." Puno was himself a graduate of UP, where he got his law degree and where he was also the editor of the Philippine Collegian, the official paper of the state university. - GMANews.TV