16/05/2025
๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ-๐ง๐ฎ๐ด๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ
The USC SHS Debate Society denies and condemns the baseless allegations linking it to so-called โCommunist Terrorist Groupsโ (CTGs). We affirm our rights as students to academic freedom and responsible discourse.
A report shared by our former adviser, made by a SAP officer, claims that our flagship educational forum, Diskursong Debatista, invited groups allegedly classified as CTGs, specifically Kabataan Partylist - Cebu and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) - Cebu. These organizations are legally recognized, with Kabataan Partylist holding a congressional seat, and KMP known as a legitimate advocacy group for peasants. Both have repeatedly refuted any association with armed movements and are therefore not related to CTGs.
Debate Society firmly rejects the accusation that these groups are fronts for CTGs or that Diskursong Debatista serves as a recruitment platform. Such claims amount to red-tagging a dangerous practice that endangers the safety and reputations of students, faculty, and institutions by conflating legal activism with involvement in the armed underground movement. It has been established by the Supreme Court that red-tagging, vilification, labelling, and guilt by association threaten a personโs right to life, liberty, or security, highlighting the very dangerous tone of the allegation.
Furthermore, the incident comes as a clear barrier for debaters and students alike to exercise their academic freedom, not just in their ability to study the topics that come about during debate competitions, but also in their academic freedom to study the pressing issues of today. To label the speakers and the groups invited to Diskursong Debatista as CTGs (or members thereof) wrongfully assumes that the reasonable inquiry of these topics equates to armed communist rebellion. This is a dangerous precedent. Our rights as students to academic freedom and discourse are being wrongfully put to question through such claims.
Debate Society also did not break any regulations or go against any directive from the SAP Office, as all Diskursong Debatista sessions were approved by the SAP Officer. The organization complied with all requirements needed for hosting such events. With the last speaker being vetted and screened by the same SAP officer, the organizers also followed through with any comments or suggestions that the SAP office wanted in regards to the change of speakership or the date of the event. Organizers also sent the required documents and proposals before the actual ex*****on of the event.
We deny this allegation wholeheartedly and condemn it as a glaring instance of red tagging, an accusation that puts students and faculty alike in danger. To call legal organizations terrorists is a heavy accusation, not to mention one that is clearly falseโwhich is against the Debate Societyโs dedication to integrity and discourse. We call on the administration for a swift inquiry on this matter
