Prior notice for the entrance to the UP OK campuses with the head of AFP, but …

MANILA, Philippines – While agreeing that prior notification is needed before the military sets foot on the campuses of the University of the Philippines (UP), the newly installed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) , General Cirilito Sobejana, said on Friday that they should not be prevented from entering when they are urgently called to perform their duties.

“Yes, for kang pumasok sa isang tahanan, you have to knock on the house owner’s door,” Sobejana said in an interview on the ABS-CBN news channel when asked if she would still want prior coordination before the army join the UP. campus.

(Yes, it is like entering a house, you have to knock on the door of the owner of the house).

“But if there is a crime in progress, then we have to intervene immediately to mitigate the effects of the crime that is occurring and we will save those who need to be saved,” he added.

(But if there is a crime in progress, then we have to intervene immediately to mitigate the effect of the crime and save whoever needs to be saved.)

Sobejana also pointed out that the military should not be banned from UP campuses, since these are considered public places.

“Regarding your question about whether the military should freely enter UP campuses, whether at Diliman or other campuses across the country, ma’am, I hope everyone understands that our mandate is to serve the people and ensure the land, ”Sobejana said.

“Bearing in mind that the UP is a public domain, we should not be prevented from entering that place if there is a call for us to do our duty,” he added.

Sobejana answered affirmatively when asked if she would still want prior coordination before the military enters the UP campuses.

Both the UP and the Department of National Defense agreed to hold more talks on the termination of the agreement that prevents state forces from entering the campus without prior notice.

“It is a work in progress, there will be successive dialogues, hanggang mag-set tayo to a win-win [situation]”Sobejana said about the UP and DND discussions.

Earlier, DND secretary Delfin Lorenzana rescinded the 1989 agreement with UP citing its obstacle to operations against counterinsurgency operations.

The move drew harsh criticism from the UP community, human rights groups, and lawmakers who expressed fear that the repeal was only intended to silence dissent.

Some also expressed concern that this could greatly affect academic freedom within UP campuses.

But following the meeting with UP officials, Lorenzana was said to be reflecting on the possible suspension of the termination of the agreement.

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