Pia Cayetano launches online petition against new UAAP residency rule

Senator Pia Cayetano. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — From an open-letter, a Senate hearing, to an online petition against the new UAAP residency rule, Senator Pia Cayetano is leaving no stone unturned.

Cayetano on Thursday initiated an online campaign posted at change.org “to continue to support our student-athletes.”

“Yup, I’m serious [in my opposition to the new UAAP rule],” said Cayetano on her Twitter account.

The former volleyball varsity from University of the Philippines had earlier called on the UAAP board and said the amended residency rule is a “cruel and unjust punishment.”

She also invited the UAAP board to explain the wisdom behind the rule, which requires a high school student enrolling to another UAAP member school in college to sit it out for two years.

The hearing was originally scheduled for Thursday (March 21) but was moved to April 1 at the request of the UAAP board.

When someone commented about UAAP being free to set its own rules as a private entity, Cayetano said: “Sorry, but when rights are affected, [government] and can step in to protect its citizens.”