The Quezon City government announced on Wednesday that it was considering legal action against Bestlink College of the Philippines due to “serious lapses” in organizing a recent off-campus event.
Social media posts went viral showing exhausted and hungry students walking long distances to their buses after the school’s foundation day event on January 26 in Hermosa, Bataan.
“The Quezon City Government is now studying legal options to hold the institution accountable,” the city announced.
The local government criticized Bestlink for its “inadequate safety measures, lack of medical preparedness, and logistical failures that led to students being stranded for hours.”
Vice Mayor Gian Sotto scrutinized the school’s poor coordination with local authorities, highlighting reports that only six ambulance units were available for more than 25,000 attendees, leading to significant delays in student transportation.
The local government also referenced social media posts from parents and students describing “incidents of exhaustion, dehydration, and fainting due to inadequate preparations.”
According to the provincial police, event organizers initially informed authorities on January 23 that 17,000 students would be attending. However, the actual attendance of 25,000 was only confirmed a day before the event, which put “additional pressure on local resources.”
In the same statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte criticized Bestlink College for mishandling the situation and condemned the school for labeling students’ concerns as misinformation.
“It is both irresponsible and insensitive for Bestlink College of the Philippines to dismiss students’ legitimate concerns as fake news. This incident could have been avoided had they prioritized the safety and welfare of their students,” Belmonte said.
“I urge the school administration to hold themselves accountable instead of blaming and threatening students who dared to speak up,” she urged.
“The Quezon City government affirms that students and parents have the right to voice their concerns without fear of intimidation or retaliation,” she added.