Explain deaths of UP studes in encounters, we’ll talk: Lorenzana

MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is willing to hold a dialogue with officials of the University of the Philippines (UP) if they could explain incidents where UP students were killed in military encounters with the communist terrorist New People’s Army (NPA).

“(There is a) list of students of UP from all UP campuses na namatay during encounters (who died during encounters with the AFP). Explain to me bakit nangyari ito sa kanila (how did this happen to them) (and) how they failed to protect these young kids from joining these organizations and they get killed. As a parent, I really feel sad for these (students) na mamatay sila ng ganito (they died just like that). So explain nila ‘yan. If they can explain that, we will talk; if not, then forget it,” Lorenzana said at an online press briefing Wednesday.

Some of the UP students Lorenzana was referring to include Josephine Anne Lapira, 21, recruited by Gabriela and killed during an encounter with government troops in Nasugbu, Batangas on November 28, 2017; John Carlo Alberto, 22, reportedly recruited by Anakabayan and killed during an firefight with security forces in Luisiana, Laguna on February 14, 2019; Christine Puche, recruited by the League of Filipino Students (LFS) and killed Juban, Sorsogon on July 4, 2013; Becca Del Monte, 22, another recruit of Gabriela who died in Lacub, Abra on September 4, 2014, to name a few.

READ: Duterte supports Lorenzana’s move on UP-DND pact: Roque

Lorenzana welcomed UP President Danilo Concepcion and some senators’ call for a dialogue regarding the termination of the 1989 agreement that prohibits state forces from entering the university campuses sans prior notice.

Earlier, Sen. Francis Pangilinan and several others filed a resolution “expressing the Senate’s sense to oppose” the scrapping of the accord.

“I am open to dialogue with them. I appreciate the intercession of a lot of well-meaning people like members of the Senate who passed a resolution for us to dialogue. Also, Secretary (Harry) Roque has offered his office for a dialogue between me and (UP president) Danilo Concepcion,” Lorenzana said.

He dismissed reports claiming that by terminating the agreement with UP, the government is providing a basis for the public to see the military and police as enemies.

“How can that be, you know of all the campuses in the Philippines, ang dami namang universities dito, nandyan ‘yung (there are a lot of universities here, there is) Ateneo, La Salle, San Beda, wala naman silang ganyang (they don’t have that kind of) agreement. (and yet) why do they (still exist), the freedom of expression is there, the freedom of academic, academic freedom is there, lahat ng (all) freedom they enjoy, so how come that they will equate the abrogation of this contract na minilitarize namin ‘yung UP (that we are militarizing UP),” he added.

Lorenzana clarified that they have nothing against the state university and that the abrogation of the agreement was not an attack against the school or its alumni.

“I have nothing against UP, we (only) want to protect UP and its students,” Lorenzana said.