Filtered By: Topstories
News

UP willing to dialogue with DND on accord —Diliman chancellor


The University of the Philippines is willing to engage in a dialogue with the Department of the National Defense (DND) following the one-sided cancellation of the pact that kept state forces out of its lands for three decades, the chancellor of its flagship campus said Tuesday.

UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo said the university will not back down from asserting academic freedom in the face of the unilateral termination of the accord, which he said took them by surprise.

In an interview with veteran journalist Malou Mangahas on The Mangahas Interviews, Nemenzo said the DND did not consult with or even notify UP prior to the termination.

"Nakita na lang namin sa social media na pinawawalang-bisa na ang agreement," he said. "This is an agreement between two parties kaya nakakagulat na isang panig ay bigla na lang sasabihing 'wala na 'to,'" he said.

He said the accord represents "mutual respect" between two institutions.

In 1989, the DND and UP agreed that police and military forces need to give prior notification to university officials before conducting operations in any of the university's campuses.

UP has its own police force, which Nemenzo said has been able to maintain peace and order in the university for the past three decades.

"Ang mahalaga dito, sana pag-usapan ulit, mag-dayalogo sa pagitan ng UP at ng DND o DILG, dahil ito ay isang two-party agreement," he said.

He said there is a need to "build goodwill and mutual trust again" between the two institutions.

In a letter to UP President Danilo Concepcion, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said "it is time to terminate or abrogate the existing agreement," claiming that the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army have been recruiting UP students.

Concepcion has asked Lorenzana to reconsider, saying the termination was "totally unnecessary and unwarranted." Students and faculty members are also protesting.

Nemenzo, for his part, said the claim of "clandestine recruitment" has to be supported by proof.

He said that UP students are exposed to different ideologies and are free to express their opinion. 

"Hindi titigil ang UP sa pagtatanggol ng academic freedom, definitely. Ito'y isang laban na hindi inaatrasan," Nemenzo said.

He said they want the DND to listen to the clamor from the UP community.

"Ayaw namin silang mabingi, gusto namin ay pakinggan kami," he said.

"Ang UP ay handang makipag pulong sa kanila para balikan natin ang UP-DND accord dahil mahalaga ang accord na 'yan, ang kasunuduang yan, hindi lamang para sa UP kundi para sa DND," he added. — BM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT