January 19, 2021 VICE President Leni Robredo, an alumna of the University of the Philippines (UP), said the unilateral abrogation of the UP agreement with the Department of National Defense (DND) effective January 15, 2021 will sow fear instead of law and order. She pointed out that the agreement, forged in June 1989 and known as the Soto-Enrile Accord, merely requires the police and military to give notice to university officials before any operations in UP. “This is neither a difficult nor onerous rule, and five Presidents since 1989 have managed to protect both the UP community and the Republic without breaking it,” Robredo said. “Clearly, then, this is not a practical gesture, but a symbolic one. One designed to sow fear. One designed to discourage dissent. One designed to silence criticism,” she added.