Elago to AFP: Keep schools as safe spaces, zones of peace

Kabataan partylist Representative Sarah Elago on Monday filed a resolution condemning the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade over the supposed red-tagging of some colleges and universities.

"It is imperative that the members of the House of Representatives, as
representatives of the Filipino people, uphold and protect academic freedom of
educational institutions," she said.

Elago stressed schools should remain as safe spaces and zones of peace that must be free from the intervention and alleged harassment of state security forces.

READ: Kabataan partylist Rep. Sarah Elago files resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to condemn and hold accountable the NTF-ELCAC and its spokesman Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade for his red-tagging of 38 colleges and universities. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/Q4v86aF1Mv

— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) February 8, 2021
 

In January, Parlade named some top universities and colleges in the country as alleged hotbeds of communist recruitment.

The Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, and the University of Santo Tomas have dismissed the general's allegation, saying that his accusations had no proof.

Elago pointed out that Parlade's action was risky as under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, mere suspicion of being linked to a terrorist group can result in unjust detention.

"Thus, linking these educational institutions as recruitment centers of the CPP-NPA-NDF thoughtlessly endangers the students and all stakeholders’ lives and security with the threat of warrantless arrests and violations of human rights," Elago said.

She said officials of the Duterte administration have continued to link schools to communist groups "while there is still no concrete and comprehensive plan for expedient and continued government support for education stakeholders, and the safe reopening of schools nationwide."—LDF, GMA News