Senate adopts reso urging DND, UP to engage in dialogue to protect academic freedom

The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution supporting the pending dialogue between the Department of National Defense (DND) and the University of the Philippines (UP) to address the recent unilateral abrogation of the accord which prohibits the entry of state forces in the premiere state university's campuses.

Senate Resolution No. 616, sponsored by Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, urges both parties to revisit the 1989 agreement and implores the DND to hold dialogues with other academic institutions with the goal of finding a common ground to "promote rule of law, and peace and security, and protect academic freedom."

Former Philippine National Police chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa abstained from voting in the adoption of the resolution.

"Please allow me to state for the record my support for the abrogation of the 1989 agreement between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense. Such move is intended to protect the youth from the snares  of communism and its empty promises," Dela Rosa said.

"Hindi kailanman ninananis ng kapulisan at militar na maghasik ng kaguluhan at takot sa loob ng paaralan. It is a sad reality that the CPP-NPA took undue advantage of the 1989 agreement," he added.

Dela Rosa further claimed that this "'protective mantle" allowed the communists to recruit combatants among young and brilliant students from UP.

Aside from the adopted resolution, several senators also filed a bill last week seeking to amend the UP Charter and require prior notification on the entry of police and military units in all its campuses.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said the 31-year-old agreement was suspended because UP has become a safe haven and breeding ground for communist rebels.

On the other hand, UP officials said the move was unnecessary and unwarranted, and asserted that the university does not condone the recruitment of New People's Army inside its campuses. They recently welcomed Lorenzana's decision to engage in a dialogue. — RSJ, GMA News