Guards under the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Guardia ng University of the Philipines Diliman (SNG UPD) and their supporters protested on September 9 inside the campus to call for the reinstatement of five guards who were illegally fired after a change of security agencies. The new agency Grand Meritus Security Agent Inc excluded the five due to their participation in protests the SNG UPD launched in previous years.

Johny Azusana, SNG UPD external affairs officer and spokesperson, and four others were fired on September 1. This is despite their complete papers and recommendations from the Dean, Administrative Officer (AO), and Building Administrator (BA) of the campus area where they were assigned.

“I expected that [I will be retained because] I have no violations and the dean in our building recommended me. Maybe because… I led the organization,” said Azusana, a guard who have served in 27 years in UP-Diliman, in an interview with the Philippine Collegian.

Azusana rejected the job the agency offered him outside UP Diliman, as he and his family live within the campus.

The UP Workers’ Alliance said the guards clearly did not violate the rules of the new agency. “They are victims of abuse of power and discrimination because they are members of the SNG UPD. [The organization] was established three years ago to fight abusive security agencies. They have also once camped under the balete tree behind Quezon Hall for almost 90 days, to fight for their rights,” the group said.

In a report by the Philippine Collegian, the student newspaper in Diliman, the agency tried to layoff more than 40 guards but the association and other unions on campus were able to assert their reinstatement except for the five. The SNG UPD has also submitted a letter urging the UP Diliman chancellor’s office to convince the agency for their reinstatement.

“We stand firm and call on the leadership to return the [five guards] to service, so that they can once again serve the university they have loved and served for more than two decades,” the UP Workers’ Alliance said.