UP ready to talk with DND to discuss accord

The University of the Philippines administration on Monday said it is ready to discuss the Department of National Defense's unilateral termination of the 31-year-old UP-DND agreement with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. 

“We in the University of the Philippines are pleased to hear that Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has decided to engage in a dialogue with us,” UP said in a statement.

The school requested an agreement on the date and place where the dialogue will be held.

“We believe that with shared openness and respect, we can settle issues between our respective institutions,” it said.

Earlier, Lorenzana said he would be willing to talk with UP about the termination of the pact that kept state forces out of its campuses, if UP can explain why its students have been among those killed in state forces' encounters with communist New People's Army rebels.

"If they can explain that, we will talk. If not, then forget it," he said.

UP president Danilo Concepcion earlier called on Lorenzana to reconsider the “totally unnecessary and unwarranted” unilateral termination of the UP-DND accord.

Lorenzana announced the termination of the pact on January 18, claiming that communists were recruiting students inside UP campuses.

Students and lawmakers have condemned the move, with senators filing a bill seeking to institutionalize the UP-DND accord to uphold academic freedom. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News