The University of the Philippines said that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana “displayed professionalism” when he axed the Armed Forced of the Philippines (AFP) intelligence chief over an erroneous list of UP students who allegedly became members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
“Secretary Lorenzana’s move displayed professionalism and a willingness to take responsibility for and rectify errors, especially errors as grievous and potentially life-threatening as this list. As UP stands for honor and excellence, we recognize and salute honor wherever it is manifested,” UP said in a statement on Friday, January 29.
Lorenzana relieved Major General Alex Luna of his post as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence effective Thursday, January 28.
A Facebook post by the AFP Information Exchange falsely listed 27 people as “UP students who became NPA (died or captured).” It has since been taken down but not before it spread online.
At least 7 of those named on the list joined a virtual briefing on Saturday, January 23, where they denounced the post. They are also considering filing a cyber libel complaint.
The military later apologized for the gaffe.
Major General Benedict Arevalo, the deputy chief of staff of the AFP Civil-Military Operations Office (J7), had gone on leave of absence after his office published the erroneous list.
This development happened a week after Lorenzana announced the unilateral termination of the 1989 UP-Department of National Defense accord that had prevented state forces from freely entering any of its campuses.
The move enraged the UP community and further stoked fears of an intensified crackdown on dissent amid the government’s continued red-tagging practice. Lorenzana later said he was open to a dialogue with UP officials on the termination of the long-standing agreement.
Here’s the full statement of UP on the relief of Luna:
We in the University of the Philippines express our appreciation for Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s decisive action in relieving Major General Alex Luna of his position as Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence following the publication of a list of alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) killed by state forces – an erroneous list that included members of the UP community who were neither members of the NPA nor slain by state forces.
Secretary Lorenzana’s move displayed professionalism and a willingness to take responsibility for and rectify errors, especially errors as grievous and potentially life-threatening as this list. As UP stands for honor and excellence, we recognize and salute honor wherever it is manifested.
– Rappler.com
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