Ateneo, DLSU, FEU, UST object to claims campuses are NPA recruiting grounds

The Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, and the University of Santo Tomas objected to an anti-insurgency official’s claims that the universities were recruiting grounds for communist rebels.

In a joint statement on Sunday, the schools said the accusations made by National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. was not supported by proof.

“We therefore object to General Parlade’s statement and emphasize that our institutions neither promote nor condone recruitment activities of the New People's Army (NPA) and, indeed, of any movement that aims to violently overthrow the government,” the schools said.

“This charge, though, is really 'getting old'—a rehash of the public accusation the general made in 2018—irresponsibly since they were cast without proof,” the schools added.

On Saturday, Parlade named top universities and colleges in the Philippines which the Armed Forces tagged as among 18 learning institutions, including the four schools, that were hotbeds of communist recruitment.

The universities asserted that, as Philippine schools, they value the Filipinos’ basic Constitutional rights of speech, thought, assembly, and organization.

“As universities with high aspirations for our country, we seek to direct our students to engage in acts that contribute to the strengthening of social cohesion, defend the country's democratic institutions, and promote nation-building,” they said.

“And as institutions of higher learning that are stewards of the youth, repositories and producers of knowledge, and builders of communities, we must retain independence and autonomy from the State and other social institutions,” they added.

The schools noted that they take as a sacred trust the basic responsibilities of promoting learning and safeguarding the rights of the young who are enrolled in their institutions.

“We are committed to this mission and have always held ourselves accountable to our primary constituents, the learners, and by extension, their parents,” they added.

The joint statement was signed by ADMU President Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ, DLSU President Br. Raymundo B. Suplido FSC, FEU President Dr. Michael M. Alba, and UST Vice-rector Fr. Isaias D. Tiongco OP. —Joviland Rita/DVM/KG, GMA News