Kailangan na magkaroon ng panibagong kasunduan ang University of The Philippines (UP) at security sector bunga ng pagkakapawalambisa sa kasunduan noong 1989 na nagbabawal sa pagpasok ng pulis at militar sa unibersidad nang walang coordination.

Ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson, chairman ng Senate Committee on National Defense, kailangang mapapanatili ang academic freedom sa loob ng “State U.”

“Once the pact is terminated, what will the security sector do? We don’t know that yet. Probably they could come to an agreement that there are boundaries to be observed,” banggit ni Lacson sa panayam ng ANC.

Related: Lacson: Boundaries Should be Observed after Ending of 1989 UP Pact

Habang walang kasunduan, posible aniya na maituring na lumalagpas ang security sector sa hangganan ng puwede nilang gawin o ipatupad sa UP.

“If it is designed to muzzle the academic and other freedoms being enjoyed by UP in general, you can describe it as that – overstepping,” banggit ng mambabatas.

Naungkat ang usapin ng academic freedom sa loob ng UP kasunod ng pagtapos ng Department of National Defense (DND) sa naturang kasunduan na nilagdaan 31 taon na ang nakakaraan. Ayon sa DND, naglutangan ang impormasyon na nakakapanghikayat ng miyembro mula sa loob ng unibersidad ang New People’s Army (NPA).

Sa pagdinig ng Senado sa red-tagging, napuna rin ni Lacson na bukod sa UP, nakakahikayat din ng miyembro mula sa ibang unibersidad ang NPA, kung saan, may mga pagkakataong namamatay pa ang mga ito sa pakikipagengkuwentro sa militar.

“To join the militant organizations, that’s fine. You can protest all you want. But when you bear arms against government and you are very young, you are vulnerable, you are easily radicalized, and the hotbed of recruitment would be UP, PUP and other universities, then I think the security sector has studied all the factors involved before they acted on the matter,” ayon pa kay Lacson.

Kilala ang UP sa pagiging aktibo sa usaping pulitikal sa bansa at pagkakaroon ng sariling kultura kaya maaring tamaan umano ng hakbang ng pamahalaan ang umiiral na academic freedom sa loob nito.

“Definitely it will affect the culture because UP is known to be independent and they are involved in so many political issues. They enjoy so much freedom. And then all of a sudden you take it away from them, that really hurts. Definitely there will be outcry, protests and disagreements. Let’s see how it shapes up in the future,” banggit pa ng senador.

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