The Union of Journalists of the Philippines – UP condemns the administration of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santa Rosa Campus (PUP SRC) for its recent interference in the operations of Tanglaw, the official student publication of PUP SRC.

In a statement released by the PUP Office of the Student Regent (OSR) today, Aug. 26, PUP SRC’s campus director, head of student services and advisers, including one who also serves as the head of academic affairs, forced a member of the editorial board into taking down a column piece.

The deleted column critically examined the low student participation in leadership positions in academic organizations — a piece that merely reflected the struggles faced by the student body due to overwhelming academic demands, low self-confidence, and the desire for autonomy.

It is deeply troubling to witness university administrators silencing student publications and controlling what can and cannot be published on their platforms. The Union echoes the PUP OSR’s statement that the administration’s responsibility is to support, not suppress, student publications.

A student publication should not be treated as a public relations arm for its university whose purpose is to beautify its image, but rather as a watchdog of those in power and a platform for members of the community to raise their concerns. It tells stories as they are — whether positive or negative — to ensure that the truth is brought to light.

The Union is also alarmed that the publication’s advisers have access to Tanglaw’s Facebook page, which also compromises its editorial independence and raises ethical concerns.

Unfortunately, many other student publications across the country also endure similar attacks from their repressive universities.

A recent report by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines revealed 35 cases of administrative intervention in student publications across the country from 2023 to 2024, along with 13 cases of adviser meddling.

Such attacks undermine the autonomy of student publications and the democratic values they uphold. The freedom to report and critique without fear of retribution is essential for the campus press to hold those in power to account and amplify the voices of the unheard.

We call on the PUP SRC administration to immediately cease all forms of interference and attacks on Tanglaw and its staffers and to respect its editorial independence which is vital to the integrity of the campus press.

UJP-UP stands in solidarity with Tanglaw and all student publications across the country in defending the campus press against such attacks and ensuring that they remain free and liberating to fulfill their duties to their communities.

The fight for the passage of the Campus Press Freedom Bill has become more urgent than ever. Once enacted, the law would provide essential protections for student journalists against administrative intervention and other forms of attacks on the campus press such as state intrusion, threats of defunding and harassment.

So long as such attacks persist, a free and liberating campus press will remain an unfulfilled promise, and the voices of the unheard will continue to be unjustly silenced.

Defend the Campus Press! Defend Press Freedom!