Bato hits 'one-sided' ban on police, military in state universities

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday called for a more "open-minded" approach to a policy which bans the presence of police and military personnel inside state university campuses.

"Let us be open-minded. Hindi naman lahat ng estudyante, ganoon ang paningin nila sa pulis at sundalo. Eh iilan lang naman 'yang aktibista diyan na ayaw na ayaw talaga," Dela Rosa told GMA's Unang Balita on Tuesday.

The former police chief, who now chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, had initiated an inquiry on the alleged recruitment of students into cases of missing students after allegedly joining left-leaning groups.

He cited during an interview on Tuesday an agreement made in 1989 between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense which bans the police or the military from entering UP to conduct lectures on career options in the armed services.

Dela Rosa lamented that the policy was "very one-sided."

"Binabawalan nila 'yung police at military na pumasok sa campus in the guise of 'yung bawal militarization at 'yung academic freedom. How about 'yung Kaliwa? pinapabayaan ninyo, ine-ecourage niyo pa ang mga batang sumali doon sa Kaliwa," the senator said.

"So kung gusto niyo talagang academic freedom, bigyan ninyo ng liberty ang lahat ng estudyante na pumanig kung saan nila gustong pumanig," he added.

Claiming only left-leaning organizations enjoy freedom in these campuses, Dela Rosa said the government should at least be given a chance to air its side.

"Kami, papasok kami, ang pulis at military, doon (upang) makipaghalubilo sa mga estudyante para bibigyan sila ng mga orientation about sa gobyerno, sa side ng gobyerno. Kasi ang nangyayari ngayon, ang Kaliwa lang ang libre doon sa loob," the senator said.

According to Dela Rosa, the military has recorded more than 500 minor students turned communist rebels in the past decade.

"In a span of 10 years, may 500 na na-record na estudyante na umakyat sa bundok at nag-armas, sumali sa NPA [New People's Army]. 'Yung accounted lang y'un. Hindi pa kasama dun 'yung hindi accounted," he said. —Margaret Claire Layug/KG, GMA News