The Department of National Defense (DND) has terminated the UP-DND accord after 3 decades.
Under the 1989 agreement signed by former UP President Jose Abueva and former Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Fidel V. Ramos, the police and military were not able to enter the University of the Philippines (UP) or conduct any operation inside its campuses without the administration’s permission for several decades.
The agreement has been terminated by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a 2-page letter received by UP President Danilo Concepcion effective January 15, 2021.
According to Sec. Lorenzana, the DND finds it a “hindrance” in providing effective security, safety and welfare of the students, faculty and employees of UP.
“The Department is aware that there is indeed an ongoing clandestine recruitment inside UP campuses…. so that government law enforcers are barred from conducting operations against CPP/NPA,” he added.
The UP community strongly denies the claim.
According to UP Pres. Concepcion, this government stride will have an effect on the academic freedom of the university. He wrote back to Lorenzana wishing for the latter’s retraction of the termination that has been done without consulting the university. He also appealed to the DND Chief to discuss the issues involved in the agreement.
However, Lorenzana believes that the agreement is “obsolete” for the current period. “I am appealing to the UP Community – let us work together to protect our students from extremism and destructive armed struggle. The Department of National Defense only wants what is best for our youth,” Lorenzana encouraged.
The DND made it clear that it does not plan to place a military or police station inside the campus. It will also not halt the rallies and that academic freedom will remain in UP.
Report from Bea Bernardo
