President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday warned University of the Philippines students that he will give their slots to "bright" Lumad if they keep on skipping class to protest against his administration's policies.
"Kaning UP sige'g walk out. Ganina, nag-walk out. O sige. Kamong dili mang-eskwela, hawa mo diha, kay dad-on ko nang mga natibong bright ngare. Mao'y akong ipabutang nako diha. Daghang Pilipino nga gusto'g edukasyon nga gwapo," he said during his speech at the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Leaders’ Summit in Panacan, Davao City.
(These UP students keep on walking out of their class. Earlier, they walked out of their class. Fine. Those who don’t want to go to school, get out, because I will bring the bright native people there. I will enroll them there. Many Filipinos want a good education.)
UP Diliman students on Thursday joined students from other universities holding the National Day of Walkout and Protest for Democracy. The students assailed the Duterte administration's alleged attacks on democratic institutions.
In his speech, Duterte said he will give the student demonstrators a privilege instead.
"So kanang mga sige'g demonstrate, ayaw mo ug walk out sa kwarto. Tagaan 'ta mo ug privilege. One year ayaw mo ug eskwela kay pasudlon nako tanang Pilipino nga wa makapalad, makagwapo ug—libre diha."
(So those who keep on demonstrating, don't walk out of your classrooms. I will give you a privilege. Don't go to school for a year because I will let all Filipinos, who weren't able to get good education, get in. It's free.)
"So kanang mga bright, kanang mga Lumad nga bright, labi na ug mathematics, pasudlon ta mo ug UP," he said.
(So those who are bright, those bright Lumad, especially in Mathematics, I will let you enter UP.)