"The Department of National Defense only wants what is best for our youth. Let us join hands to protect and nurture our young people to become better citizens of our great nation," Lorenzana said in a statement.
The defense chief earlier wrote UP President Danilo L. Concepcion telling him he is aware of ongoing clandestine recruitment inside UP campuses nationwide by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army, an organization declared by the Anti-Terrorism Council as a terrorist organization and listed as such by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand.
The DND on Monday junked its almost 31-year old agreement with UP that disallowed the police and military to conduct anti-insurgency and counter terrorism operations along its campuses.
The agreement, which was a gesture of courtesy accorded to UP upon the University’s request, has become obsolete through the changing times since it was signed, and according to security officials, has been used as a shield and propaganda to recruit more youths into the armed conflict being waged by the CPP-NPA.
UP, Lorenzana said, has become the breeding ground of intransigent individuals and groups whose extremist beliefs have inveigled students to join their ranks to fight against the government. The country’s premier state university has become a safe haven for enemies of the state.
"The Department of National Defense will neither renege nor shirk on its duty to protect the rights of the majority," he said.
"It will not tolerate those who will violate the laws of the land in the guise of lawful public dissent, free assembly, and free speech. It is our sworn duty to protect the Filipino people," he added. (PIA NCR)
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