Classes resume at MSU

MANILA, Philippines — A week after a bomb attack killed four persons and wounded dozens of others during a Catholic mass at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi, students returned to classes yesterday amid tight security and heightened police and military presence.

In a memorandum released on Dec. 7, MSU president Basari Mapupuno said the decision to resume classes “ensures the continuity and stability of the academic and professional pursuit of the student body.”

Mapupuno said the resumption of onsite classes at the MSU was made possible in coordination with the military, the police and the city and provincial governments of Marawi and Lanao del Sur, respectively.

University officials, faculty union heads and student leaders were also consulted on the matter, Mapupuno said.

The memorandum authorized the increased presence of military, police and peacekeeping forces on campus, the university said.

State forces and K9 teams will regularly inspect university offices, classrooms and buildings to ensure the safety of everyone.

“We urge everyone to cooperate with our security personnel and report any suspicious activity immediately. Your vigilance and cooperation are vital in ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone on campus,” Mapupuno said.

The university and the provincial government provided transportation to students who returned to campus from the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Pagadian as well as Malabang town.

Up to 1,948 students, who are officially enrolled this semester, returned to their home provinces after the bomb attack.