"Filipinos don't realize that victory is the child of struggle, that joy blossoms from suffering, and redemption is a product of sacrifice." This is a quote from none other than Dr. José Rizal. The 2022 National and Local elections that took place yesterday on the 9th of May and the Commission on Election has failed to address the multiple anomalies in various precincts. 

Reported cases of vote-buying, poor precinct processes, incidents resulting to violence, and other electoral violations combined with the 1,800 vote counting machines (VCMs) are seen online. These cases show that the integrity of this year's election is questionable.

We are the university that bares the name of our national hero. The participation of the youth and the students of JRU in their duty and right to vote is recognized. The matters that have taken place on the day of elections should give us more reasons to protect the country's democracy.

We, the students of the beloved university urge the JRU Administration to suspend synchronous and asynchronous activities, including quizzes, examinations and deadlines until May 13, 2022. The students of JRU are fighting for their future and we cannot afford to focus on our academics while the history is about to change forever.

It is time to live up to our university's name. It is time to apply what we learned from the university's continuous care for good education. Today, we set aside our individualism not just as members of JRU, but as citizens of our beloved country. We are here to defend and protect the democracy of the Philippines.