Air Force denies filing complaint against UST student activists

MANILA — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday said it was not involved in the suspension of four student activists who confronted military personnel during its exhibit at the University of Santo Tomas campus.

In a text message to ABS-CBN News, PAF spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian said the military unit did not file a complaint against any of the students, adding that the suspension was an internal matter being handled by UST without any intervention from the PAF.

“The Philippine Air Force respects the fundamental right to freedom of expression. With regard to the students from UST, we wish to clarify that the PAF has filed no complaint against any student,” Capinguian said.

“We respect the university’s autonomy and remain committed to fostering positive, meaningful engagement with the Filipino youth,” he added.

UST’s official publication, The Varsitarian, earlier reported that four student activists had been suspended following formal complaints from the PAF and an alumnus, supposedly expressing concern that the April 21 confrontation had reached a national level and elicited a reaction from Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

The publication also reported that the students would be denied their Good Moral Character Certificate, resulting in the removal of one of them as public relations officer of the central student council.