AFP’s major services back DND abrogation of accord with UP

The major services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday backed the decision of the Department of National Defense (DND) to abrogate its 31-year-old agreement with the University of the Philippines on the ban on entry of government security forces in its campuses.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Philippine Navy said the termination of the pact was not an impairment to academic freedom, freedom of speech, assembly, or redress of grievances.

"The PN firmly believes that SND's decision was made in good faith and is rooted in the DND and AFP's concern for the safety of our youth," it said.

The Navy said that it would continue to do its crucial role "in preserving peace and harmony, by defending the Filipino nation against terrorism and other forms of threats."

The Philippine Army, meanwhile, said it is not against UP's academic freedom as well as its dissent, progressive acts and peaceful activism.

The Army said it recognizes UP as home of the best and brightest students in the country.

"What we are after is to end NPA’s armed struggle wherein they use students for their own advantage," Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said.

"The Philipine Army is mandated to serve the people and secure the land. UP compound is a public domain and with the issue at hand, the military should not be prevented [from] doing their job," he added.

For its part, the Philippine Air Force said there is nothing irregular in the DND's action as UP students would be treated as how the rest of Filipinos are being treated.

"Clearly, the termination of the agreement does not diminish 'academic freedom' - as UP would still be free to choose who may teach, what to teach, how to teach, and who may be admitted as students. It will not hinder search for truth and pursuit of knowledge. It will not curtail peaceful assembly," it said.

The PAF believes that abrogating the agreement "will ensure that the AFP can help UP accomplish its mandate to protect the lives and future of Filipino children from duplicitous, ungodly tentacles" of the supposed communist recruitment in the University.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana decided to end the agreement as he believed UP had become a breeding ground for communist rebels. He also claimed that the deal was already obsolete as circumstances have changed over the years.

But UP president Danilo Concepcion said terminating the pact was totally unnecessary and unwarranted. He said no prior consultation was done before the DND reached its decision.

Concepcion called on Lorenzana to reconsider his decision and instead have a discussion with University officials.

Lorenzana has said he is willing to talk with UP officials, however, they have to explain why their students were among those killed during encounters between government troops and communist rebels. — NB/RSJ, GMA News