ni Lolet Abania | January 24, 2021
Mariing tinutulan ng Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, at University of Santo Tomas ang pahayag ng isang anti-insurgency official na ang mga unibersidad ay recruiting grounds para sa mga rebelde at komunista.
Sa isang joint statement ngayong Linggo, ayon sa mga nasabing unibersidad, ang akusasyon na ginawa ni National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, Jr. ay walang kaukulan o suportadong pruweba.
“We therefore object to General Parlade’s statement and emphasize that our institutions neither promote nor condone recruitment activities of the New People's Army (NPA) and, indeed, of any movement that aims to violently overthrow the government,” nagkakaisang pahayag ng mga naturang unibersidad.
“This charge, though, is really 'getting old' -- a rehash of the public accusation the general made in 2018 -- irresponsibly since they were cast without proof,” dagdag nila.
Matatandaang kahapon ay pinangalanan ni Parlade ang 18 top universities at colleges sa bansa, kabilang na ang apat na paaralan, na pugad umano ng communist recruitment.
Iginiit ng mga unibersidad na pinahahalagahan nila ang itinuturing ng mga Pilipino na tinaguriang ‘Constitutional rights of speech, thought, assembly, and organization’.
“As universities with high aspirations for our country, we seek to direct our students to engage in acts that contribute to the strengthening of social cohesion, defend the country's democratic institutions, and promote nation-building,” sabi nila.
“And as institutions of higher learning that are stewards of the youth, repositories and producers of knowledge, and builders of communities, we must retain independence and autonomy from the State and other social institutions,” dagdag nilang pahayag.
Ipinunto pa ng pamunuan ng mga nasabing paaralan na ipinatutupad nila ang sagradong pagtitiwala na ang pangunahing responsibilidad ay maitaguyod ang nararapat na kaalaman at pangalagaan ang karapatan ng mga kabataang nag-aaral sa kanilang institusyon.
“We are committed to this mission and have always held ourselves accountable to our primary constituents, the learners, and by extension, their parents,” anila pa.
Ang joint statement ay pinirmahan nina ADMU President Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ; DLSU President Br. Raymundo B. Suplido FSC; FEU President Dr. Michael M. Alba; and UST Vice-rector Fr. Isaias D. Tiongco OP.
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