PRESS RELEASE

13 September 2018

UP President Danilo L. Concepcion has written Philippine National Police chief Oscar D. Albayalde to express his concern over the reported visit of three uniformed and armed PNP officers to UP Diliman last Wednesday, September 12.

Witnesses said that the policemen went to the residence of Student Regent Ivy Joy Taroma, looking for her without disclosing their reasons. They later proceeded to Palma Hall, presumably in continuation of their search. Pictures of the visit surfaced on social media, provoking protests from student leaders, including Regent Taroma herself.

In his letter, President Concepcion told Gen. Albayalde that “The UP community is deeply alarmed by this intrusion and the possible reasons for its undertaking, and I am writing to inquire (1) if you or your local superintendents were aware of, and authorized, this visit; and (2) if so, what its official purpose was.”

He also noted that “the University and the police and military authorities have had a longstanding agreement to observe prior coordination with each other on any such actions on our campuses to prevent any misunderstandings, particularly as UP Diliman has its own police force to deal with minor incidents and disturbances.

“Such sudden and uncoordinated intrusions tend to raise concerns about the repression of civil liberties and human rights, and I hope that you will respond to allay those concerns and assure us that these incidents will not recur under your administration.”

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