UP blasts NTF-ELCAC for red-tagging students

The University of the Philippines (UP) President Advisory Council (PAC) denounced the administration’s anti-communist task force for allegedly “red-tagging” members of its student body who called for an academic walkout in protest of the projected win of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. — whose father’s administration was marred with atrocities against student activists.

In a statement Friday, the advisory council cited the statement issued by NTF-ELCAC cautioning against supposed “disruptors and destabilizers” of peace and order following the conduct of elections on May 9.

It also referred to an interview of NTF-ELCAC vice-chair Hermogenes Esperon where he claimed academic walkouts are a “dangerous avenue” for recruitment of New People’s Army (NPA) members.

“Such statements maliciously misrepresent legitimate forms of protests as ‘breeding grounds for terrorist recruitment, violate civil liberties and carelessly endanger our students in their democratic exercise of constitutionally protected freedoms,” the UP-PAC said in a press statement.

“These accusations are baseless and paranoid, and by themselves sow the discord that they purport to prevent,” it added.

The university administration vowed to stand with its students and defend them against red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation.

“We will continue to defend our academic spaces. We will protect our students vigorously against’ red-tagging, harassment, and intimidation. We will safeguard the University from destabilizing forces,” it said.

“Critical thinking and service to community and country are hallmarks of UP’s tradition as an institution of higher learning. Hands off our students. Hands off our University. Defend academic freedom,” it added.

Apart from UP, student government from various groups from universities including Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines showed solidarity and issued calls for academic walkout after the partial, unofficial tally from the election returns from the Commission on Elections showed Marcos Jr. leading the 2022 presidential race.—LDF, GMA News