"The named lawyers are not members of the New People’s Army (NPA). They were never captured. They are very much alive, not dead. They are responsible and respected Filipino lawyers who serve well our country in various capacities and meaningfully contribute to nation-building," IBP president Egon Cayosa said.
Opposition Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan welcomed Monday the apology of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) over an erroneous list of University of the Philippines (UP) students-allegedly-turned New People’s Army (NPA) published in an AFP-affiliated social media page.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 25) - Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said his office will only issue a legal opinion on the abrogation of the 1989 University of the Philippines-Department of National Defense Accord if requested.
“The SOJ, as attorney general, does not issue legal opinions or commence administrative adjudication proceedings unless requested by heads of government agencies or other states instrumentalities,” he told reporters in a text message.
Considering that there is an “apparent dispute” between UP and the DND on the termination of their pact, Guevarra added that the DOJ will view any request for legal opinion as a request for administrative adjudication under the Revised Administrative Code.
Published January 25, 2021, 6:49 PM
Opposition Rep. France Castro of ACT Teachers Partylist on Monday called on Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera to help protect the academic freedom of learning institutions instead of issuing declarations that tend to back the “baseless accusations of the security forces” against schools.
Rep. France Castro (Rep. France Castro Twitter)
Castro aired the appeal as Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago chided De Vera for the alleged “anti-student stances” he had take in connection with the controversy surrounding the UP-DND accord.
“Popoy De Vera’s callous remark on the unilateral of the 1989 University of the Philippines – Department of National Defense (UP-DND) Accord by the DND. As the chairperson of both CHED and UP Board of Regents (BOR), De Vera’s play-safe opinion and view that the issue was politicized are lamentable as these just cater to the side of the military and their intent to infiltrate scho
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque suggests defense units exercise more prudence in their remarks red-tagging individuals following the Armed Forces of the Philippines apology to certain UP alumni after including them in a list of alleged NPA recruits. This came after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana acknowledged the mistake committed by the military.