UP Diliman chancellor: Red-tagging can lead to violence, illegal arrests

After the unilateral termination of an agreement that kept state forces out of the University of the Philippines for decades, UP Diliman's chancellor said he worries the "red-tagging" that may follow can lead to violence and illegal arrests.

Speaking with The Mangahas Interviews, Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo said it was not fair for UP to be branded as a recruiter into the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army.

"Ayan ang nakakatakot, red-tagging without any proof, nabansagan kang pula, baka mahuli ka," he said when asked about assemblies in UP possibly being considered by state forces as clandestine recruitment activities.

"Ang mahirap kasi dito sa red-tagging... it can lead to violence, unlawful arrests.  Ito nga yung iniiwasan natin," he said.

Nemenzo told Mangahas that he fears a return of the time when the mere reading of materials on "human rights" led to one being tagged as communist.

"Dati, kapag magbasa ka lang ng libro na may salitang human rights, naaalala mo dati, martial law, salitang gaya ng nasyonalismo, karapatang pantao ,noong panahong yun na-reredtag ka na," he said.

"Nakakatakot [na] baka bumalik 'yung ganong klaseng atmosphere. Lahat ng pagtatanong ay nababansagan bilang komunista, ito yung sinasabi nating red-tagging," he added.

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

But Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told UP President Danilo Concepcion in a January 15 letter that it was time to end the agreement. He claimed UP is a venue for "clandestine recruitment" into the CPP-NPA.

The UP community erupted in protest and Concepcion has asked Lorenzana to reconsider the "totally unnecessary and unwarranted" move.

Nemenzo said the termination caught UP by surprise. He said the university is willing to engage in a dialogue with the DND.—Nicole-Anne Lagrimas/LDF, GMA News