Sectoral regents of the University of the Philippines (UP) on Friday raised concern over the university and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) signing of the Declaration of Cooperation last Thursday.
In their joint statement, UP’s Offices of Faculty, Staff, and Student Regents said the university administration has gravely compromised the institution’s academic freedom by signing an agreement that “(facilitates) various initiatives, including joint research projects, academic programs, and community engagement activities, with the aim of strategically aligning resources and expertise between the AFP and UP.”
“The signing of this declaration essentially requires the University to be complicit to human rights violations and political oppression. It also essentially legitimizes ongoing suppression of critical voices and progressive initiatives within the University that the military deems inimical to its notion of national security,” the statement reads.
The sectoral regents also said the declaration comes in the wake of relentless vilification and red-tagging of members of the UP community by executive and military officials, as well as various threats to academic freedom and civil liberties of UP students, scholars, faculty members, and staff.
“Already, we have observed an increase in police presence in the UP Diliman campus while Sen. Dela Rosa was engaged in his witch hunts in the Senate during the past few days,” the statement continued.
The sectoral regents likewise reiterated the declaration was signed by the Jimenez administration without any consultation with the UP community.
“This is most despicable and should merit the strongest condemnation from the students, faculty, staff, and other community members, including all University Councils in all constituent universities. This is only the latest in a long line of undemocratic actions and decisions by the Jimenez administration,” the statement concluded. — With Rolando Ng III
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