LOOK: Three more University Student Council (USC) candidates for councilorship have cut ties with university-wide party Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).
📷: Gaebrielle Angela Abuel / Facebook
Gaebrielle Angela Abuel and John Neil Tumangan plan to withdraw their candidacy while Craig Julienne Navalta will continue as an independent candidate.
"Recent events also caused us to realize that the ideals and areas of unity we formerly shared with STAND UP are no longer compatible, owing to the present framework and governance of the alliance," their statement read.
As of press time, only Mattheo Wovi Villanueva remains in STAND UP’s roster for USC councilors as candidates Erwin Ace Medina, Katrina Batac, Charles Shi, Alvin Magno and Ian Mercene disaffiliated from the political party yesterday.
All the candidates that have disassociated from STAND UP expressed their aversion to the political party’s stances during #Aktibisita2023. Alleged mishandling of sexual harassment cases committed by STAND UP members were raised in the said forum.
NEWS UPDATE: STAND UP Clark, a political party in the UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga and Olongapo (UP DEPPO), has broken off from the university-wide alliance Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).
Following SALiGAN sa CSSP, STAND UP NCPAG and STAND UP CHE, the Subic-Clark-based party is the fourth local chapter to disaffiliate from STAND UP due to the issues brought up in #Aktibisita2023 last Thursday, May 4.
STAND UP Clark showed disappointment over the alliance’s move to “bury” its members’ sexual harassment cases and to affirm the chancellorship Atty. Carlo Vistan in UP Diliman.
JUST IN: @standupche, a political party in the College of Home Economics, has also disaffiliated from the university-wide party Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).
They are the third local party to cut ties with STAND UP today.
In their statement, the local party condemned STAND UP for "hiding, silencing and keeping secret" the cases of sexual harrassment involving its members. They added that the "unjust" response of STAND UP on these cases are a form of "refusing to serve justice" to victims of abuse.
“Hindi sinasalamin ng kasalukuyang liderato ng STAND UP ang pinanday at pinagtibay na prinsipyong isinabuhay simula nang itinatag ito,” they said.
STAND UP CHE challenged the university-wide alliance to correct their lapses and mistakes in addressing their members' concerns.
JUST IN: @standupncpag, a political party in the National College of Public Administration and Governance, has severed from the university-wide party Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).
This comes after SALiGAN sa CSSP's disaffiliation from the same party earlier today.
In a statement, the NCPAG-based party cited the recent #Aktibisita2023 forum where the involvement of the university-wide party in cases of sexual harassment were brought up.
They explained that they were surprised to know about these incidents which "the party has hidden in the previous years."
STAND UP NCPAG also criticized the university-wide party's affirmative stance on Atty. Edgardo Vistan's chancellorship in UP Diliman.
JUST IN: SALiGAN sa CSSP, a political party in the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), has splintered from the university-wide party Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP).
In a statement, the local party expressed their dismay over STAND UP’s “mishandling” of sexual harassment cases within its ranks in previous years. They added that they felt betrayed by the university-wide alliance's "lack of transparency" about these incidents.
“Sa kabila ng bigat ng mga ito, malinaw rin na hindi ito isolated case kundi serye ng mga palpak na pagtugon sa magkakaparehong uri ng kaso,” CSSP-based formation exclaimed.
During the official UP Diliman political parties forum, Neo Aison and Louise Espiña, University Student Council (USC) Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson candidates, respectively, represented STAND UP.
Meanwhile, Jaira Del Mundo, Chairperson candidate, and Kian Noguera, Education Representative to the USC candidate, spoke for UP ALYANSA.
@UP_POLSCi Julia Labao, @UP_POLSCi President opens the forum: Aktibisita aims to cultivate a sense of inclusivity and integrate the activist spirit deeply ingrained in the university’s culture.