The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched a series of “educational” forums in universities, starting with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and Philippine Women’s University (PWU) late last month as part of its intensified counter-insurgency campaign.
By Jan Merck A. Maguddayao
Philippine Collegian
Posted by Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 23, July 15-21, 2007
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched a series of “educational” forums in universities, starting with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and Philippine Women’s University (PWU) late last month as part of its intensified counter-insurgency campaign.
An AFP colonel explained in a report that the forum intends to inform students about armed insurgents and their “front organizations” in universities, yet emphasized that their intention is neither to harass students nor militarize campuses.
The anti-insurgency forum’s first leg, organized by the campus’s Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC), was held in PLM on June 24. All freshmen ROTC students were required to attend.
“Hindi naman nag-mention ng names [ng organizations] ang AFP pero nire-remind nila ang students na huwag sumama sa mga aktibistang grupo kasi mga fronts daw sila ng NPA [New People’s Army],” (The AFP did not name any organization but they reminded students not to join activist groups because, according to them, these are fronts of the NPA.) a PLM student who requested anonymity said.
“Bukod pa riyan, ini-inculcate sa amin na sumunod kami sa authorities dahil ito raw ‘yung makabubuti sa amin.” (They also inculcated in us the need to follow authorities because it would be for our own good.)
National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) Chair Marco delos Reyes, however, denounced the said series of forums, saying that “it is a move to militarize campuses and repress students’ rights.”
“May kalayaan ang mga legal organizations tulad ng NUSP na makapag-organize sa mga campuses at may kalayaan rin ang mga estudyante sa kung ano ang gusto nilang salihan,” (Legal organizations, such as the NUSP, have the right to organize students in campuses and students have the right to join any organization.) Delos Reyes said.
Shahana Abdulwahid, chair of the University Student Council, also said that the forums are intended to sow fear among students, as the military fears the strengthening of the student movement in campuses. “Sa halip na ilabas nila ang mga dinukot na estudyante tulad nina Karen Empeño at Sherlyn Cadapan, ganito pa ang kanilang ginagawa,” (Instead of surfacing students who they forcibly abducted such as Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, they had to gall to do these things.) she added, referring to the two UP Diliman students who were abducted allegedly by military elements in Bulacan last year.
When asked if she would allow the AFP to conduct its forum in UP, UP President Emerlinda Roman said, “I do not see any reason for them to come here. I’d like to think that our students are mature enough to know what they want to do.”
Abdulwahid recalled that a similar forum was held in the Philippine Normal University where the AFP specified groups like the NUSP, League of Filipino Students, and Anakbayan as “NPA fronts.”
Delos Reyes added that such forums were held in provincial campuses some three years ago. AFP holds anti-insurgency forums in universities. He cited a forum in UP Cebu, where the AFP flashed pictures of
activist organizations and members of the student council, while in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Lopez, Quezon, two student journalists were singled-out as “communists.”
Before the said forums, the AFP asked for a list of student organizations from the campus’s Office of Student Affairs and the forum’s attendance sheet to “spy on students,” he added.
Delos Reyes also received documents saying the National Police Commission is planning to build Philippine National Police detachments inside campuses. “The NUSP will also hold more discussions about urban and campus militarization in order for the students to learn more about their academic rights,” he said.
The Collegian tried but failed to contact the AFP through phone. Philippine Collegian/Posted by(Bulatlat.com)
