State schools may allow law enforcement career orientation

MANILA, Philippines — State universities and colleges (SUCs) may allow law enforcement agencies to conduct career orientation seminars, which may entice students to become part of the government via its law enforcement sector, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said.

University of the Philippine (UP) president Danilo Concepcion and other SUC representatives were asked about the possibility of conducting the seminars by Dela Rosa during the hearing for the 2020 national budget recently, to which Concepcion and other SUC officials replied a resounding yes.

Dela Rosa assured UP officials of his support for the immediate passage of the premier state university’s budget, amid reports of recruitment and activities of left-leaning groups in the university.

The senator said he is not against UP and its students, but he is opposed to the Communist Party of the Philippines -New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA) and its alleged recruitment in universities.

He also urged Concepcion to ensure the safety of UP students and encourage them to be part of efforts to boost  national development.

Dela Rosa said he is not against academic freedom since it will let the youth achieve their full potential, but he also asked SUCs to draw the line between freedom and insurgence.

Anti-communism lectures

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said “friendly” schools will be the first stop for anti-communism lectures its officials plan to hold in campuses.

“It will depend on chiefs of police. We will start with friendly schools,”  NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on Cignal TV’s One News on Monday.

When asked to give specifics, Eleazar did not mention which schools they intend to visit first, stressing he is leaving the decision to his ground commanders.

The Philippine National Police is pushing to have police presence in state campuses following reports of rampant recruitment of students by communist rebels.

Eleazar said it is important to educate students about the “evils” of communism since some youths die fighting state security forces. – With Emmanuel Tupas