Unrest in USM: UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT GOES ON TRAVEL

The month-long unrest in the premier state agricultural university in the Southern Philippines, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), appears headed to a peaceful resolution as embattled President Dr. Jesus Derije has reportedly agreed to go on a foreign travel and yield his post to an officer-in-charge.

Cong. Jesus N. Sacdalan (LP North Cotabato-1st District) informed me last night that his efforts to resolve the USM problem paid dividends after he was able to persuade Dr. Derije to take a foreign travel to diffuse the tension in the university which has already turned into an ugly confrontation between the protesters and the police Wednesday morning.

The unrest in the University started after Dr. Derije was reappointed by the Board of Regents for another four-year term as president of USM.

Several students and some members of the faculty who were against the reappointment of Derije immediately launched a protest, backed by members of the Bangsamoro community.

They demanded the resignation of Dr. Derije whom they accused of irregularities and bias against the Bangsamoro communities.

Dr. Derije has denied the accusations and urged the protesters to take their grievances to the proper venue rather than disrupt the university operations.

The protest, which affected the operations of the University and the studies of the students, turned ugly Wednesday morning when policemen surprised the protesters and tried to disperse them resulting in a physical confrontation which resulted in injuries to at least 10 policemen.

Cong. Sacdalan said he was tasked by DILG Sec. Mar Roxas to settle the USM problem so as to protect the students from the disruption which would affect their studies, especially those who are graduating this year.

It was not known who will be designated as OIC of the University but it is widely believed that it will be an official who is not currently involved with the USM.