UP Pres. airs concern over cops’ search for Diliman student in campus

FILE: University of the Philippines-Diliman facade (Photo By Ramon FVelasquez – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo Concepcion on Thursday, September 13, expressed his concern over the “sudden and uncoordinated” visit of three police officers at the UP Diliman campus last Wednesday.

According to the statement of the state university, witnesses said the uniformed and armed officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) went to the residence of student regent Ivy Joy Taroma to look for her, but they did not state their reasons.

They eventually proceeded to UP’s Palma Hall “presumably in continuation of their search.”

In his letter addressed to PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, Concepcion said, “The UP community is deeply alarmed by this intrusion and the possible reasons for its undertaking.”

The state university president asked the top cop whether he or his local superintendents were aware of and authorized the visit of the three uniformed and armed PNP officers in the campus, and what its official purpose was.

“The University and the police and military authorities have had a longstanding agreement to observe prior coordination with each other on any such actions on our campuses to prevent any misunderstandings, particularly as UP Diliman has its own police force to deal with minor incidents and disturbances,” Concepcion said.

“Such sudden and uncoordinated intrusions tend to raise concerns about the repression of civil liberties and human rights, and I hope that you will respond to allay those concerns and assure us that these incidents will not recur under your administration,” he added.

Photos of the visit were posted on social media, “provoking protests” from student leaders, including Taroma.

As of writing the PNP has not yet replied to the letter of the UP President.