After being dared for a debate on academic freedom by student organizations based at the University of the Philippines, a senior police officer said yesterday that the Philippine National Police will not back down from any challenge for a discussion on the issue.
“That is exactly what we want. They should just set the time, date, and place and the PNP will be sending our representatives to debate with them,” PNP spokesman Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said.
Banac was reacting to the statement issued by some student groups of UP Diliman inviting Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and other government officials who are proposing for the deployment of policemen and soldiers in schools for a debate.
“The UP Rises Against Tyranny and Dictatorship, an established alliance in the UP System, alongside the UP Office of the Student Regent, and UP Diliman University Student Council, cordially invites Sen. Gen. Bato dela Rosa and other proponents of his proposal, to debate on the matter inside our campus in the spirit of academic freedom,” the statement said.
The statement added that since Sen. Dela Rosa and other government security officials that include PNP chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde are persistent in sending government forces despite the opposition of the UP community, it would be better that the issue is discussed publicly via a debate.
“Students, faculty members, and even UP officials have already spoken on the issue. We have Chancellors and Deans standing firm with the student body that our academic freedom will be at high risk of being curtailed if this intervention pushes through. Obviously, it’s a sensitive issue close to the community and if Sen. Dela Rosa would want to convince us otherwise then they should come and debate with us, unarmed and ready to listen, on the matter,” said UP Student Regent Isaac Punzalan.
“If they are truly insistent in their proposal, then we can sit down and talk through a public avenue like this. Leave their arms outside, and we can talk,” he added.
Banac said that they will only participate in the debate if there is an approval of the leadership of UP Diliman or other schools the students intend to debate with the police.
“We still have to get the approval of the top school officials of UP or any schools where we are invited. Once it is settled, we are ready to go,” said Banac.
Banac said that despite the protest action held by UP students on Aug. 20, their position to send policemen in schools still stands.
“A civil and healthy dialogue is precisely what we want. The PNP does not intend to encroach on academic freedom. However, our call for access to campuses will remain,” said Banac. (Aaron Recuenco)
