Are students still safe in UST?

FACT:

Yesterday, October 25, 2007 at around 5:00 pm, an outsider broke into a car owned by a professor parked infront of the Benavides Library to steal two laptops inside it. The car window was smashed and the outsider got the laptops and ran out through the Dapitan gate. Fortunately, a student witnessed such happening and immediately called the attention of the guards. The chase caused traffic along Dapitan street because everyone was shocked about the incident and most students were surprised of the number of UST guards on bike chasing the outsider along Dapitan street. Roughly two months ago, College of Rehabilitation Sciences President Benjamin Abela, III’s laptop was stolen from his car parked at the multideck pay parking inside UST. The rear window was also smashed and that is how the criminal gained entry to his car.

Objectively speaking, how did the outsider gained entry to our university? I am not pointing fingers to anyone but it is quite obvious that there is negligence on the part of the guards on duty. UST is our second home. We students must feel that we are safe and secured inside the university premises. Notwithstanding the cases of Thomasians killed just outside our walls because of gun shots and knives, having an incident as serious as this inside our very campus is a serious matter we should all be concerned about. If our valuables can be stolen and our cars can be violated right inside our campus, then there must be something wrong with our Security measures. Whats next? – We will be hearing a Thomasian killed by gun shot or knife right inside our campus or building? A student raped right inside our shower rooms? I mean if we cannot address the minor concerns well, what are the chances that we will be able to address the major ones? Thus, it will bring us all to the question, ARE STUDENTS STILL SAFE IN UST?

We have been lobbying for the CSC Campus Safety and Security plan since Day 1. We were  proposing for the following;

1) VISITORS’ PASS or ID system where there will be designated gates where outsiders (non-Thomasians) can gain entry provided that they give a valid ID such as but not limited to passports, driver’s license, etc. They will be issued a Visitor’s Pass and they will be properly endorsed to the guard on duty of the place they wish to visit. For the case of the UST Hospital, and the parishioners of Santissimo Rosario, there will be designated gates also for people going to these places.

2) 7:00am – 10:00pm Pedestrian Assistance. In a letter to former Vice-Rector for Finance, Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P., and current Acting Vice-Rector for Finance, Fr. Manuel F. Roux, O.P., we have requested for this PEDXING assistance and the employment of additional two guards. After our dialogue with Mr. Dingayan, UST Security Detachment Commander, he raised that they are undermanned. He suggested the employment of two guards to better the system.

3) After waiting for the formulation of the Crisis hotline, CSC already placed the Emergency lines tarpaulins so that Thomasians will know the numbers to call when needed. Also, we have asked before AY 0607 ended that there will be guards on bikes who will roam around the walls of the university for visibility purposes. We also asked the Office of the Vice-Rector for Finance during the time of Fr. Marquez to study the feasibility of putting up swiping stations at the gates of our campus.

4) It is a saddening reality that the Manila Bureau of Parking and Traffic has now allowed the parking of vehicles on the sides of the walls of the university along the streets of Lacson, Dapitan, and P.Noval. This is a security nightmare! Experiences of our Security officers will tell us that in the  night time, these cars parked near our walls has become a hideout for holdapers and rugby-dependent people. Most of the time, they hide and when they see a possible victim they just appear out of the sides of the car and nabbed students. We are currently asking for its immediate removal.

5) Right now, there is no student representative sitting on the university Security committee. We already expressed our intention to be part of the said committee and no response was given yet. Students should be represented in the formulation of security measures inside the university.

I am bothered by the recent events in UST. As Students let us be vigilant and be concerned with our safety. The best way to proceed is by realizing that together, we are a force to reckon with. Together, criminals wont stand a chance. If you have concerns and suggestions, feel free to tell us. No one has a monopoly on ideas. Thanks.