By Elisha Beatrice Umali
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Thousands of students around the country joined the National Youth Day of Action against Pax Silica on November 13, denouncing the U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Philippines and the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) stated in a Facebook post that thousands of students and youth groups nationwide walked out in opposition to the Pax Silica initiative. “The youth have united in defending our national sovereignty, natural resources, ancestral lands, livelihood, and human rights,” stated NUSP. 

Youth Against Pax Silica, a nationwide network of individuals and student-led organizations, earlier announced 42 universities across nine regions to participate in the mobilizations. 

Several state-wide university systems, including the University of the Philippines (UP), Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Mindanao State University took part in the mass protests. 

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co condemned the Philippines’ involvement in the war efforts of the USA during the local mobilization at UP Diliman. 

“We will not allow our workers, farmers, and indigenous peoples to be used only for the gain of a few. The youth and Gen Z’s calls are to fight for our future, to reject Pax Silica, [and] Trump out now,” said Co in Filipino. 

Prominent private universities such as the Ateneo de Manila University, its regional campuses, and the tertiary institutions along Manila’s university belt also staged protest actions in their respective universities. 

While protesting in Taguig City, three students from the University of Makati (UMak) were arrested by police personnel over alleged unauthorized assembly. There were also instances of policemen punching and headlocking UMak students.

Read: Cops arrest 3 University of Makati students after anti-Pax Silica protest

Youth Against Pax Silica is expected to launch a series of mass actions during the Philippines-hosted ASEAN Summit, to be attended by Trump and other international state leaders, from November 16 to November 18. (AMU, RVO)