Soldiers visit gardening project in Diliman days after DND ended pact with UP By JOVILAND RITA, GMA News
Published January 20, 2021 10:13am
Updated January 20, 2021 10:44am Troops from the 7th Civil Relations Group of the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday visited the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman to inspect their urban gardening project. The visit was conducted days after the Department of National Defense (DND) decided to unilaterally abrogate the accord with the university banning military and police forces inside the campus if there is no coordination. In a photo posted by GMA News reporter Chino Gaston on Twitter on Wednesday morning, military trucks and personnel could be seen entering the UP Arboretum.
Published January 20, 2021 8:30pm The Department of Chemical Engineering in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman on Wednesday asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) not to make hypothetical statements “absent of any factual basis” following a controversial remark by the military spokesman. Earlier in the day, Major General Edgard Arevalo said the UP-Department of Defense (DND) accord, which prevents the military and police from freely entering campus grounds, could hamper valid operations of state forces. Paano na lamang po kung mayroong shabu laboratory, for instance, sa loob ng UP community or campus and then meron po tayong valid arrest warrant at search warrant?” he said in a news conference.
At least 18 University of the Philippines students who joined the New People's Army have been killed in clashes with government forces, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Gilbert Gapay said on Wednesday.
By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA News
Published January 19, 2021 9:34am
Updated January 19, 2021 10:20am University of the Philippines president Danilo Concepcion on Tuesday underscored that the unilateral termination of the Department of National Defense-UP pact on the ban on entry of state forces in UP campuses was unnecessary and unwarranted. Concepcion expressed concern over the DND s decision, noting that it could just adversely affect the relations between the agency and the university. I must express our grave concern over this abrogation, as it is totally unnecessary and unwarranted, and may result in worsening rather than improving relations between our institutions, and detract from our common desire for peace, justice, and freedom in our society, Concepcion said in a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
The decision of the Department of National Defense to end its agreement with the University of the Philippines as regards prohibition on the entry of police and military was clearly an aim to sow terror and fear, the Communist Party of the Philippines said Tuesday.