Coed sexually assaulted in UP Diliman campus

MANILA, Philippines — A female student of the University of the Philippines was sexually assaulted inside its Diliman campus in Quezon City over the weekend, according to the state university’s administration.

In a statement, the UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor said that at around 11 p.m. last Saturday, the UP Diliman Police (UPDP) received a report that a female student was sexually assaulted by a still unidentified person along Ylanan Street on campus.

The victim is currently receiving medical care, while the assailant remains at large.

“The UPD administration has been working with police authorities for the immediate apprehension of the suspect and closely coordinating with the survivor to provide all necessary assistance,” the statement, issued by the Office of the Chancellor last Sunday night, read.

The UP Diliman administration said that more roving security personnel and UPDP police officers would be deployed in various areas of the campus, especially after office hours.

“Everyone is reminded to stay vigilant and report anything suspicious to the UPDP,” the Office of the Chancellor said.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has denounced the incident, saying it must serve as a “wake-up call” for the country’s premier state university to review its security policies.

“This despicable criminal act is a wake-up call for the University of the Philippines to review and rationalize its security and safety policies, including its operational engagement with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies in order to make the UP community safe and secure,” CHED chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said in a press statement yesterday.

De Vera said he has already directed the UP president and the UP Diliman chancellor to “ensure that all assistance to the victim-survivor is properly and expediently provided.”

De Vera also reminded UP administrative and security officials to “immediately coordinate and allow the proper offices of the PNP to spearhead the investigation and conduct possible pursuit operations.”

“The UP administration must tap the expertise of the PNP to identify, track and apprehend all those responsible for this reprehensible act of violence,” he said.

“Higher education institutions must remain as

safe spaces for their students. I encourage anyone and everyone who has any information regarding the incident to report to the authorities to aid in the investigation. The university must spare nothing to ensure that justice is obtained for the victim and her family,” he added.