UP dean in hot water for backing Rody’s ouster

The academic freedom enjoyed by officials and employees of public universities has a limitation: you cannot call for the ouster of the president of the republic.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officerin-charge J. Prospero de Vera yesterday expressed concern over a statement of a college dean at the University of the Philippines (UP) which seemingly supported the ouster of President Duterte.

“I would really encourage university officials to promote discussions, to allow students to articulate their beliefs,” he said. “But calling for the ouster of the president is another thing.”

Over the weekend, a pledge of support issued by UP Diliman College of Engineering dean Rizalina de Leon drew mixed reactions for calling on the college community to “join the Filipino people under the banner of ‘Engineer the Downfall of Tyrant and Dictator Duterte.’”

The statement was issued in support of scheduled activities on Sept. 21 in commemoration of the martial law declaration.

Following criticisms, De Leon issued a clarification, stressing that she does not support the ouster of Duterte.

“While I believe that the engineering community must take upon itself the challenge to defend human rights and civil liberties, and that we ought to speak out against any system of tyranny and dictatorship whether current or future, I do not and will not instigate the downfall of any person or leader, including President Duterte,” she added.

De Leon noted that her brother was gunned down in the early days of martial law because he was fighting for the rights of farmers.

Despite the clarification, De Vera – who sits as cochair of the UP Board of Regents – said he would still ask for an explanation from the dean.

“I frown upon university officials who take a political position on issues, especially those who call for the ouster of the president. That is simply not allowed under existing law,” the CHED official said.

Remembrance

As this developed, UP president Danilo Concepcion on Monday signed a proclamation declaring Sept. 21 as a Day of Remembrance of the role of the university in resisting martial law.

The designation of Sept. 21 as a Day of Remembrance was among the commitments made by Concepcion after he received backlash from the university community for attending a reunion of Marcos-era Kabataang Barangay inside the Diliman campus last month.