UP-NCPAG calls out AFP for misidentifying netizen who supports ending UP-DND deal as a UP professor

The University of the Philippines on Tuesday called out the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) after the military said that the university's "silent majority" supported the abrogation of the UP-DND accord, after one person claimed this to be the case—and for identifying that person as a UP professor when he isn't.

In a Facebook post, the AFP’s Civil Relations Service (CRS-AFP) quoted a Michael Eric Castillo, whom it identified as a UP professor, as saying, "Papaano nasabi na hindi sang-ayon ang majority sa pag abrogate ng UP-DND accord? You try to do a survey. Hindi po totoo na ang majority ng UP alumni ay kalaban ang gobyerno."

However, the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) said that Castillo “was not and never has been a professor or a regular faculty member of NCPAG” and that his views did not represent the faculty.

“We deplore AFP's blatant attempt to misrepresent the UP community by misappropriating UP's logo, peddling opinion as fact, and generally releasing information without proper verification of its sources,” the  NCPAG said in a statement.

According to the NCPAG, Castillo served as a part-time lecturer for the second semester of the academic year 2014-2015 and the first and second semester of the academic year 2015-2016.

“As the primary duty-bearer of our national security, we expect nothing less from the AFP to observe the strictest standards in upholding truth and integrity as it performs its duty,” it added.

The NCPAG, meanwhile, threw its support behind the University’s position that the accord, which prevents state forces from entering university grounds without prior notice, should not have been abrogated.

UP's Media and Public Relations Office also issued a statement on the CRS-AFP's post, urging the military to take it down.

The CRS-AFP later posted a clarification, saying that it had "no intention to disrespect and mislead the public in providing information" and that it would repost the cards it made featuring Castillo, without the UP seal.

On January 18, the Department of National Defense unilaterally terminated its 31-year-old agreement with UP, saying it was hindering the agency in providing “effective security, safety and welfare” of the students, faculty, and employees of UP.

UP President Danilo Concepcion, however, said the termination was “totally unnecessary and unwarranted.”

The Commission on Higher Education has said it will organize a panel of experts "to define the meaning of academic freedom and the role of security forces in the protection of academic freedom and the welfare of students.” — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News