Palabra de honor: Upholding the PUP-DND Agreement
After Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s remarks that he had unilaterally abrogated the UP-DND accord; the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) is also in danger of suffering the same fate in another threat of accord termination between the state university and the department.
PUP-DND Accord or Prudente-Ramos Accord of 1990 is an agreement between the Department of National Defense and PUP, which prohibits any military or police operations intended to be conducted in any of the PUP campuses, buildings, and other premises without prior notification.
The Importance of the 1990 Accord on Academic Freedom
Academic Freedom, according to Quijano (2013), is an independent pursuit of academic excellence and scholarly work, unbiased promotion and dissemination of knowledge, and freedom to express opinions without undue interference or influence from big authorities, for the benefit of the public and humanity in general. As stated in Article XIV, Section 5(2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions of higher learning. The accord safeguards the constitutionally guaranteed academic freedom of the PUP and is established to respect the university and student’s right to enjoy the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, expression, assembly, and association, as well as the right to liberty and security of person and liberty of movement.
Following this line of thought, PUP student regent, Ellenor Bartolome and central student council president, Jonero Dacula through their position paper emphasized upholding the 1990 agreement, and acknowledging the right of all students “to freely advocate their ideas on the campus with utmost tolerance, understanding, and guarantee, without fear of interference and intervention or repression from the state, or any of its agencies and instrumentalities.”
On ‘Special Treatment’
Among those who staunchly call for the scrapping of the accord between DND and PUP, in particular, is pro-administration party-list lawmaker, Ducielle Cardema of Duterte Youth, she stated that the accord gives special treatment to only two SUCs.
“Itong UP-DND & PUP-DND Accord ay klarong — klaro na special treatment na inabuso na, sa tagal ng panahon. Kung sa 400 plus campuses ng iba’t — ibang SUCs ng bansa wala namang ganyang accord pero peaceful naman, tama lamang tanggalin na ang special treatment na yan na naaabuso rin naman” (The UP-DND accord and the PUP-DND accord are clear cases of special treatment that are being abused for the longest time. If the more than 400 campuses of the different SUCs in the country do not have that same accord but remain peaceful, then it is just right to remove this special treatment that is being abused).
In support of Cardema’s statement, DND Secretary told reporters, “There’s a rumor about PUP having an agreement with the DND, but I have not seen a copy,” He added, “But if you can present to me a copy, I will abrogate it also.”
Following the termination of UP-DND and the plot of also abrogating the PUP-DND Accord, Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Jane Elago filed an act to institutionalize the UP-DND accord in the whole university of the Philippines System as well as the private or public academic institutions. For reference: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h5F3rgSvdMH6g-lbKYsCD42-vFVzDgsz/view?fbclid=IwAR0g_xKN2O1wlCqM05JiH5LHz_1TXTIV_IgCtZgm_vuTQ2G_st5ufC4GCQY
This long-standing agreement was signed on the 21st of August 1990 by the former PUP President Dr. Nemesio E. Prudente, together with former Secretary of the Department of Defense Hon. Fidel V. Ramos, Chairman of National Police Commission Hon. Cicero C. Campos, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Renato de Villa, and Chief of Constabulary/Director General of Integrated National Police, Mgen. Cesar Nazareno.
REFERENCES:
Const. (1987). Article XIV, Section 5(2), Phil. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-xiv/#:~:text=(2)%20Academic%20freedom%20shall%20be,of%20teachers%20to%20professional%20advancement.
Mercado, N. (2021, June 19). Duterte Youth slams ‘special treatment’ to UP; wants PUP-DND accord scrapped, too. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1385742/duterte-youth-slams-special-treatment-to-up-wants-pup-dnd-accord-scrapped-too#ixzz6kkNmdMzt
Quijano, R. F. (2013, July 20). What academic freedom? https://opinion.inquirer.net/56917/what-academic-freedom.
