UP profs call students in Abad mobbing ‘enemies of the university’

Enemies of the university.

 

This was how 23 economics professors from the University of the Philippines (UP) branded student-activists, who mobbed Budget Secretary Florencio Abad on Wednesday night after a forum at the Diliman campus.

 

In a signed statement on Friday, UP School of Economics faculty members, led by Dean Ramon Clarete, also demanded a public apology from those involved in the mobbing incident, which they called "a blow to UP's honor."

 

"By participating in these events, the protesters have declared themselves enemies, not of Secretary Abad, but of the university itself," the economics professors said.

 

They added that the protesters' actions may result in "an impoverishment of intellectual life and a reduction of debate to a monologue among the already-converted."

 

"The acts of Wednesday's protesters, therefore, not only violated decency and courtesy; they were an assault on the university itself," they said.

 

On Wednesday evening, some students reportedly grabbed Abad's collar and threw placards towards the Cabinet official after he defended the administration's controversial disbursement acceleration program (DAP) during a forum at the UP School of Economics.

 

Abad, who is facing a plunder complaint over the DAP, said on Thursday that he will formally write the UP leadership about the mobbing incident.

 

Probe, penalties

 

The faculty members further called on UP officials to improve security of invited visitors, and to probe and ultimately penalize those who mobbed Abad. 

 

"We call for a renewed discussion and clarification among faculty, staff and students, of the university's unwritten rules of free speech and safe passage, to ensure that the university remains a free and fearless field of ideas," the professors said in their statement.

 

They further reminded UP students that "debates are won not by assault but by argument, not by shouting down but by speaking up." 

 

They likewise challenged the University Student Council "to publicly dissociate themselves from the actions of Wednesday's hooligans."

 

The following professors signed the statement: Rosa Alonso i Terme, Maria Joy Abrenica, Ruperto Alonzo, Agustin Arcenas, Romeo Matthew Balanquit, Joseph Capuno, Fidelina Carlos, Ramon Clarete, Rolando Danao, Sarah Lynne Daway, Emmanuel de Dios and Emmanuel Esguerra.

 

Also among the signatories were: Profs. Raul Fabella, Aleli Kraft, Cielo Magno, Maria Nimfa Mendoza, Solita Monsod, Marjorie Pajaron, Stella Luz Quimbo, Majah-Leah Ravago, Renato Reside and Gerardo Sicat. —NB, GMA News