Youth representative seeks probe on military ‘surveillance’ in UP Diliman

MANILA, Philippines – Kabataan Partylist Representative Terry Ridon denounced on Friday, October 23, the reported surveillance that took place in the UP Diliman campus earlier this week.

As part of the incident, the UPD Police (UPDP) apprehended 6 military agents allegedly doing “surveillance work.” The news was reported by the Philippine Collegian in a Facebook post on Wednesday, October 21.

Ridon said that he would file a resolution on Monday, October 26, calling on the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education and the Committee on National Defense to further investigate the intrusion.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent incident in UP Diliman, wherein the UP police apprehended military surveillance officers for illegally entering the university and snooping on students,” he said.

Manilakbayan

Ridon, a former UP student regent, highlighted the intrusion to be a violation of a 1989 pact between the Department of National Defense and UP, which precludes military and police entry into the university without the prior approval of the UP administration.

“There is great suspicion that this military surveillance incident is connected with the preparations for the Manilakbayan camp-out next week,” according to Ridon.

UP, among other schools, will hold “Youth Solidarity Camp-outs,” hosting more than 700 Lumad who travelled from militarized communities in Mindanao in a caravan dubbed #Manilakbayan. (READ: TIMELINE: Attacks on the Lumad of Mindanao)

The solidarity campout will last from Monday, October 26, to Saturday, October 31.

Ridon also noted that student leaders of UP Diliman were reportedly harassed via text message.

Despite threats from the military, youth and student leaders from various schools will welcome various sectoral groups who are now travelling from Mindanao to the country’s capital. – Rappler.com

Lorenzo Benitez is a Rappler intern. He is an incoming Cornell University student.