EXCHANGE. University of the Philippines Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano (left) hosts a dialogue with Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Region 6 officials at the Miagao, Iloilo campus on Oct. 29, 2021. He said UP welcomes all ideas and communication even if the State University does not agree with all of them. (Photo courtesy of Clement Castigador Camposano Facebook) MANILA - The recent dialogue between the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Region 6 (RTF-ELCAC 6) was an opportunity to exchange ideas and promote freedom of expression. As for those who opposed the talk, a former UP student who joined and eventually turned her back on the New People's Army (NPA) had this to say in response to their negative reactions: What's wrong with the dialogue? "NTF-ELCAC not welcome? So, who's welcome?" asked Alma Gabin, a former NPA cadre and organizer in Eastern Visayas, in a statement issued on Friday, referring to the October 29 meeting led by UPV Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano, who received members of the RTF-ELCAC 6 and gave them a tour of the Miagao, Iloilo campus. Reading materials and copies of a coffee table book published by the National Commission Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) were given by the RTF-ELCAC 6 visitors to the UPV head. Gabin said a group of 49 organizations, composed mostly student councils and student publications staff including Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) affiliates Kabataan party-list, Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, Karatula, and Youth Act Now, condemned the dialogue. She said group called Defend UP tried to represent the whole UP Visayas community "by using the plain-folk propaganda technique to persuade us that their thought is excellent since it is shared by the great majority of people. This can be seen in their words like malaking sampal sa mga iskolar ng bayan (slap on the country's scholars), karapatan ng mga estudyante at kawani (rights of students and staff), etc," Gabin stated. Free exchange For transparency, Camposano posted on his Facebook page that he hosted the NTF-ELCAC "in the spirit of dialogue". The post was was met with criticisms from former and current students, faculty, and alumni on social media but Camposano defended his action. "To those asking why I bothered to host and engage those who have red-tagged UPV students and faculty members, here's the simple answer: I prefer not to censor those who would want to censor us by closing the doors on them. Because I would rather that we walk the talk, that we practice what we preach. Because the freedom of expression that the University represents extends to those whose ideas we don't like," his post read. Gabin lashed back at the organizations which claimed to defend the university. "As vanguard of critical thinking and activism, I call on the UP community to answer these questions: Defend UP from what? Defend UP from whom?" she asked. As an education officer of the CPP for 16 years and an organizer of national democratic mass organizationsf within UP premises, Gabin said she is certain they do not represent the students. "They hastily issued a statement without a proper democratic consultation among the students of their respective departments and colleges. These few leaders advocate democracy and academic freedom yet a simple element of academic freedom (due consultation) wasn't practiced. Look who's monopolizing the discourse? Who's the real threat to academic freedom?" Gabin stated. In his message, Camposano underscored UP's commitment to academic freedom and its openness to dialogue. "The one thing that defines UP is that we are open to the free exchange of ideas. This engagement should be seen in that light," he said, adding it is important to hear from the officials and representatives of the task force as well as "for the RTF to see where we are coming from as a university based on our mandate and our tripartite function of teaching, research, and extension". Camposano was joined by Vice-Chancellor Harold Monteclaro; UPV legal counsel Nellie Jo Regalado; Alumni Director Prof. Rey Gonzales; Prof. Julie Prescott, Office of the Chancellor Project Development Assistant Anna Razel Ramirez, Security Service Force chief Raymund Germarino; and executive assistant to the Chancellor Eloisa Jamolo, among others. The NTF-ELCAC team included Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales, Lt. Col. Constander Cahayon, Lt. Col. Tony Timbal, Major Ruel Llanes, Lemwel Casas, Lt. Rafman Altre, Capt. Apitong, Major Ashley Cruz, Major Rey Tolosa, and former rebels Winnie Dobleza and "Ka Boy". Representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Commission on Higher Education, and another rebel returnee, James Saguino, attended the meeting virtually. The UPV - University Student Council, in a post on November 1, said they drafted a letter addressed to the Office of the Chancellor "requesting full disclosure of (1) minutes of their dialogue and (2) titles and sources of the books/reading materials that were accepted". MEETING. University of the Philippines Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano (front, 4th from left) and Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Region 6 officials pose in front of the Oblation at the Miagao, Iloilo campus on Oct. 29, 2021. Camposano gave his guests a tour of the campus. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army Spearhead Troopers) Call for transparency Gabin challenged the group calling for transparency to practice the same. "You want transparency? I am challenging the leaders of these organizations to practice what they preach. Show us how you have come up with your strong statements. Show the public what's transpiring during your discussions of various issues, your discussions of MKLRP (Maikling Kurso sa Lipunan at Rebolusyong Pilipino), and other teach-in activities inside the campus. Show us your books based on your organization's curriculum. You can use Facebook live or a simple video documentation will do. Let the public decide who's curtailing the people's freedom and who's killing the voice of the people," Gabin stated further. She also called on all UP students to exercise genuine academic freedom by demanding democratic consultation from such organizations before issuing statements. Gabin said the CPP-New People's Army (NPA) should stop using the students for its own interests. The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as "an integral and separate part" of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA) }