Deal abrogation critics clinging to martial law mentality –Dela Rosa

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa on Sunday reiterated his support for the abrogation of the 1989 pact between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense (DND), claiming that the presence of security forces on campuses would not violate UP's academic freedom.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Dela Rosa, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police, said that those who opposed the entry of police and military forces in UP campuses may still be clinging to a "martial law mentality."

"Anong gagawin ng pulis at military diyan? Bakit lalabagin yung kanilang academic freedom? Hindi naman magtatayo ng detachment diyan sa loob ng UP," he said.

Signed in 1989, the UP-DND Accord prohibits police and military forces from entering UP campuses without prior coordination with university officials.

The pact was signed a few days after Donato Continente, staffer at the campus publication Philippine Collegian, was arrested by security forces at the Vinzons Hall in UP Diliman for allegedly killing American soldier Colonel James Rowe.

But in his letter informing UP of their decision to end the accord, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana alleged that communist rebels were recruiting students inside the campus.

Lorenzana argued that the accord hinders the DND in providing “effective security, safety and welfare” of the students, faculty, and employees of UP.

‘Bakit allergic sila’

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said that terminating the UP-DND accord would allow security forces to recruit UP students.

"Kung na-abrogate ang agreement na yan, ibig sabihin pwede na ang pulis at militar makapasok doon at mag-recruit din ng mga gustong pumasok sa PNP o sa pulis, hindi na sa NPA (New People's Army)," he said.

"Kasi open na open, pwedeng maka-recruit ang NPA doon, tapos ang gobyerno hindi makapag-recruit dahil yan ang ginagamit na panangga," he added.

Given that UP is a government institution, government forces should be allowed to freely enter its campuses, Dela Rosa said.

"For all we know, UP is a public institution funded by the government. E bakit yung gobyerno hindi pwedeng pumasok diyan? Hindi ba yan part ng gobyerno? Bakit hindi pwede pumasok ang taga-gobyerno diyan?" he added.

At the same time, Dela Rosa also insinuated that those who opposed the abrogation of the UP-DND accord may be hiding something inside UP campuses as they are so afraid to let state forces in.

"Bakit allergic sila masyado sa military? Meron ba silang tinatago? Baka may tinatago sila doon na kapag may pumasok doon na military o pulis, malaman na uy, nandito pala si ganito, ganyan, matagal nang hinahanap. Nandito pala yung recruiter ng NPA," he said.

"Masyado lang silang anti-military, anti-police na I think it still remnant of the martial law era. Matagal na tayong walang martial law, iba na ang takbo ng pulis at military ngayon," he added.

Despite the claims of Lorenzana, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Elena Pernia said the university did not condone alleged NPA recruitments inside the campus.

UP President Danilo Concepcion also said the termination of the UP-DND Accord was "totally unnecessary and unwarranted," and may only taint the relations between the two institutions.

Several senators opposed the move of the DND and urged it to reconsider, saying academic freedom must be upheld. Some of them also filed a bill institutionalizing in the UP Charter the essence of the 1989 agreement.  — DVM, GMA News