MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is willing to talk with the University of the Philippines (UP) on the termination of the 1989 accord that bars unauthorized entry of security forces into UP campuses.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said only Lorenzana has so far expressed willingness to discuss the matter with UP President Danilo Concepcion, who has not responded to Roque’s offer to broker the talks between the two.
“What I offered was my good office. Pero so far po ang tumanggap lang po ay si Sec. Delfin Lorenzana,” Roque said in a virtual presser. “Hindi pa po ako nakakarinig ng kahit anong komento kay President Danilo Concepcion.”
Meanwhile, Roque said the proposal of some senators to institutionalize the UP-DND accord was a reasonable one.
“Sa akin po, that seems to be a reasonable proposal but that has to be enacted po into law,” Roque said. “We’ve always respected the prerogative of our legislators to legislate national policies.”
Senate Bill 2002, which was filed last Wednesday, seeks to amend the UP Charter of 2008 (Republic Act 9500) to require prior notification on the entry of police and military units in all UP campuses.
The proposed law, which was introduced by senators Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and Sonny Angara, also prohibits state forces from interfering with peaceful protest actions within the university premises./PN
