Leody de Guzman backs law institutionalizing UP-DND accord

Presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman has asked the Senate to pass the measure institutionalizing the provisions of the scuttled accord between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense.

De Guzman made the remark after the UP community asked the Senate to pass its version of the measure a year after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana cancelled the 1989 UP-DND accord.

"Ako ay kaisa ng UP community sa pagsulong ng pagiinstitusyonalisa ng UP-DND Accord," De Guzman said.

"Lagpas dito, dapat nating ipaglaban ang pagpapalawak at pagiinstitutionalize ng Academic Freedom hindi lamang sa mga UP campuses bagkus saklawin ang lahat ng pamantasan, pribado man o pampubliko," he added.

In cancelling the accord, Lorenzana said the New People's Army had been recruiting members among UP students on campus.

The agreement for 31 years banned the entry of military and police inside UP campuses without prior coordination with university officials.

The House of Representatives passed its bill on the institutionalized accord on September 21.

"Kahit noon pang may UP-DND Accord, patuloy ang paglabag ng mga ahenteng estado sa academic freedom at wala ni isang napaparusahan sa mga ito," De Guzman said.

"Ang kanselasyon ng UP-DND Accord ay bahagi ng pangkalahatang atake ng rehimeng Duterte sa karapatang pantao at kalayaang sibil," he added. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News