Tension rose between the marching members of the League of Parents of the Philippines (LPP) along with Duterte Youth and the students and workers of the University of the Philippines at the Diliman campus of the university on Tuesday.
The two groups discussed the issue of alleged recruitment of young people to become members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
This is in the midst of the escalating problem caused by the Department of National Defense’s termination of its agreement with UP that prohibits police and military operations within UP campuses without notice to the university administration.
The LPP asserted that the youths are being put in danger due to the active recruitment to be part of NPA.
The UP community, on the other hand, insists that the campus is not a nest of NPA recruitment.
If any UP student has become an NPA, it is their own decision.
“We feel alarmed, we are very concerned,” said UP Student Regent Renee Co.
“Kaming mga magulang ay gusto lang namin na magpahayag ng aming pag-aalala dahil sa nangyayaring recrutiment sa loob ng eskuwelahan,” said LPP President Remy Rosadia.
LPP no longer insisted on entering the university.
Tension rose between parents and students protesting at UP-Diliman
UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo explained that there were no contact details in the group’s letter informing them to protest inside the campus.
“Ito ang nagiging epekto ng pagpapawalang-bisa ng UP-DND agreement, kaya ang hiling namin ay bumalik sa pag-uusap,” said Nemenzo.
At the press conference before the fight, the UP community expressed their concern over the death threats and the military’s continued red-tagging.
UP is also preparing for the month of Diliman in February, in conjunction with the commemoration of the 1971 Diliman Commune.
The Diliman Commune is the uprising of the Diliman community and transport sector against the increase in fares and other issues during the Marcos regime.
In commemoration, UP installed an installation art called “Barikada,” by visual artist Toym Imao.
The UP community insists that it is not just the restoration of the agreement that is needed now amid the escalating threat to activists and academics.
It is also necessary to extend the agreement with other universities in the country.