The Philippine government called Tuesday for sobriety in the wake of violent protest actions on tuition policies by some state universities and colleges (SUCs) which reportedly was the reason why a first year college student committed suicide.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, in a news briefing, said that it was "unfortunate" that Kristel Tejada, a freshman student of state-run University of the Philippines (UP), committed suicide on March 15.

Tejada killed herself by drinking a poisonous substance after she failed to enroll for the second semester following her failure to pay her student loan during the previous semester.

The incident prompted students in other SUCs to conduct protest actions, some by burning classroom equipment.

"Understandably, it is a painful experience but it has to be resolved through sobriety and studying the policies within their school system," Lacierda said.

He added that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has already ordered UP and other SUCs to look into their policies as well.