Lorenzana tells UP officials: Explain deaths of UP students in military ops vs NPA

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expresses the government’s willingness to negotiate over the termination of the 1989 pact with the University of the Philippines (UP) barring state forces from entering university premises.
However, the Defense chief said the University must first explain the number of students being killed in military operations against the New People’s Army (NPA).
“I am open to dialogue with them. Pero sagutin muna nila kung bakit namatay ang mga taong ito kasama ng NPA. This is a list of students of UP from all UP campuses na namatay during the encounters with the Armed Forces,” Lorenzana said referring to a list of UP students who were killed in encounters fighting by the side of the NPA.
“Explain to me bakit nangyari ito sa kanila. Why did they fail to protect this young kids enjoining this organization?” the official added.
Without an acceptable explanation from the UP officials, Lorenzana said there is no reason for dialogue.
“As a parent, I really feel sad na mamatay sila ng ganito. So explain nila iyan. If they can explain that we will talk. If not then forget it,” he added.
Lorenzana said their decision to end the UP-DND pact is not only to protect the students from being lured by the NPA but also to implement equal protection of the law.
The Defense Secretary also stressed that it was not to curtail the students’ right and freedom of expression.
“We do not suppress legitimate dissent. This morning when you wake up nakakapag tweet kayo. You can form demonstration there. Nobody will touch you,” Lorenzana said.
“Ang ayaw namin ay itong mga nagtatago dyan at nagre-recruit ng mga bata, binibigyan ng baril at makikipaglaban against the government,” he added.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson MGen. Edgard Arevalo said he doesn’t see any violation of the law with the termination of the accord.
The Supreme Court defines academic freedom as the academic institution’s freedom to choose and accept instructors, design their own curriculum and manner of teaching, and who can enroll into the university.
“Academic freedom is enshrined in the Constitution not in this agreement,” Arevalo stressed.
The UP administration is yet to issue a statement on the issue. —MNP (with reports from Lea Ylagan)