Malacañang on Tuesday confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte backs the decision of the Department of National Defense to terminate its agreement with the University of the Philippines barring the entry of the military or police in campuses without official authorization from the UP administration.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that Duterte supports Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana move to end the 1989-UP-DND Accord, citing the need to “protect” the youth from recruitment activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.
Moreover, the spokesman urged UP President Danilo Concepcion to publish a clearer stance on why the termination of the agreement should be reconsidered, as latter appealed in his statement.
“Tingin ko naman po, sa tagal kong nanatili sa UP, hindi nila hahayaang malabag ang kanilang karapatan sa academic freedom,” he said.
Members of the UP community, lawmakers, law experts, and other government officials condemned the unilateral termination of the pact. This included Vice President Leni Robredo.
