DND-UP deal didn’t serve the best interest of public order, security — PNP

Published January 19, 2021 02:49 PM By ANNA FELICIA BAJO,GMA News

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has expressed its support to the Department of National Defense's decision to abrogate its agreement with the University of the Philippines regarding the ban on the entry of state forces in its campuses.

The police believed that the pact, which was signed in 1989, "did not serve the best interest of public order and security in all 30 years that the accord was in effect."

The PNP said the termination of the deal would not diminish its mandate to uphold the law at all times.

"Any abuse or criminal behavior committed by men in uniform shall be dealt with accordingly," the PNP said in a statement issued Tuesday.

"The PNP seeks to build stronger collaboration among stakeholders to protect campuses against criminal activities, drug syndicates, and shadowy organizations that promote and espouse local communist armed conflict against government through force and violence," the PNP added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana decided to end the agreement as he believes that UP has become a breeding ground for communist rebels

. He said the deal was also obsolete as circumstances have changed through the years.

UP president Danilo Concepcion, meanwhile, has urged Lorenzana to reconsider his decision, saying that the move could adversely affect the relations between the DND and the University.

The termination was also unnecessary and unwarranted, according to Concepcion.

Lawmakers have also called on the DND to rethink the unilateral termination of the 31-year-old agreement. — RSJ, GMA News

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