Senator Kiko Pangilinan warned the government about their decision to end the University of the Philippines – Department of National Defense accord that was signed in 1989.
On Monday, it was announced that the defense department has ended its accord with UP.
The said accord prohibited any members of the military and police to enter the campuses of UP “except in cases of hot pursuit and similar occasions of emergency”.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that there’s ongoing recruitment of students by the members of CPP-NPA inside the campuses of UP.
He also added that there were times that some of the rebels that they identified during operations studied at UP.
“The agreement is being used by the CPP/NPA recruiters and supporters as a shield or propaganda so that government law enforcers are barred from conducting operations against the CPP/NPA,” the statement read.
JUST IN: In a letter addressed to UP Pres. Danilo Concepcion, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says the UP-DND Accord, an agreement that keeps state forces from entering the premises of the University, is terminated effective January 15. #DefendUP pic.twitter.com/1EGyaJDwSY
— Philippine Collegian (@phkule) January 18, 2021
One of the politicians who criticized the decision was Senator Pangilinan who’s a known activist of UP during his early years.
“Tinutulan natin ang panghihimasok ng diktador noon. UP has always been and will always be a citadel of freedom and democracy,” Pangilinan said.
“No to the unilateral and arbitrary termination of the Enrile-Soto Accord. Pakiusap lang. Please don’t mess with UP,” he added.
Tinutulan natin ang panghihimasok ng diktador noon. UP has always been and will always be a citadel of freedom and democracy.
No to the unilateral and arbitrary termination of the Enrile-Soto Accord.
Pakiusap lang. Please don't mess with UP.#DefendUP#UPFight!
— Kiko Pangilinan (@kikopangilinan) January 18, 2021
According to Pangilinan, he’s the chairman of the UP Diliman university state council when the accord was signed in 1989.