By Maricel V. Cruz and John Paolo Bencito
CHANCELLOR Michael Tan of the University of the Philippines complained to the Department of National Defense on Friday over the “unauthorized military intrusion” into the university’s campus in Diliman, Quezon City.
In a statement posted on the university’s official website, Tan said the administration is deeply concerned over an alleged violation of a 1989 agreement that was signed by then UP president Jose Abueva and then defense secretary Fidel V. Ramos.
“Our concern is that there has been a violation of a provision in the agreement between the university and the DND, requiring prior notification of the university of any military operations in any of our campuses,” Tan said.
“No such request was received by UP Diliman.”
On Oct. 21, the university’s special services brigade sighted “suspicious activities” involving six men inside the campus’ Roxas and Regidor streets near the College of Education and in the Sunken Garden.
“They were using two Toyota Innovas. Our SSB and UP Diliman police were able to question the men and one of them introduced himself as an Armed Forces of the Philippines officer,” Tan said.
The men, however, refused to give other information divulge any more information and the other five men remain about their identification, he added.
“The UP security personnel accompanied the six men to the Quezon City Police Department and the case is now considered to be under the QCPD,” his statement read.
Meanwhnile, a member of the Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives on Friday sought a congressional probe into the reported military intrusion in UP Diliman.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon called on the House committees on higher and technical education, and national defense to carry out a joint congressional inquiry into the matter even as he denounced the reported surveillance.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent incident in UP Diliman, wherein the UP police apprehended military surveillance officers for illegally entering the university and snooping on students,” Ridon said at a news conference.
Ridon, who is a former UP student regent, noted that the intrusion of the military is a violation of a 1989 pact between UP and the Department of National Defense that disallows military and police entry in the university premises without due notice and prior approval of the UP administration.
On Wednesday, the UP Diliman police apprehended six men on board two vans who were spotted near the Sunken Garden. Upon questioning, one of the men introduced themselves as members of the AFP.
Ridon also noted that student leaders of UP Diliman reported receiving text messages meant to harass them.
“There is great suspicion that this military surveillance incident is connected with the preparations for the Manilakbayan camp-out next week,” Ridon said.
Ridon said he will file a resolution at the House of Representatives to enable the concerned committees to conduct the congressional inquiry when Congress resumes session in November.
Meanwhile, despite threats from the military, youth and student leaders enjoined students from various schools to welcome the “Manilakbayan” contingent, composed of Lumads and sectoral groups who are now travelling from Mindanao to the country’ capital.
Several schools, including UP Diliman, will hold “Youth Solidarity Camp-outs” to host more than 700 Lumad from militarized communities in Mindanao and members of sectoral groups. The Lumad are expected to arrive on Monday, October 26, and the solidarity campout will last until Saturday, October 31.
“We call on all youth and students to join us as we welcome the Lumad and the people of Mindanao, who have travelled all the way to Manila to cry justice and call for the immediate pull-out of military troops in their ancestral domain. Together, let us stand with our Lumad brothers and sisters to stop the killings,” Ridon pointed out.
