UP-Diliman accepts PNP explanation for cops on campus

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines president Danilo Concepcion has accepted the explanation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the presence of policemen in the UP-Diliman campus in Quezon City last month, which he earlier described as an intrusion.

In a letter dated Sept. 27 to PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, Concepcion said the clarification of Chief Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia, Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) director, that the police officers were on campus on Sept. 12 to seek assistance in improving the PNP Museum at Camp Crame “is very well received” by the university.

As a  step forward, Concepcion told Albayalde of their readiness to support the PNP’s “efforts at instilling a greater awareness among our people of the PNP’s role in national development.”

Concepcion earlier questioned the presence of policemen on campus as he pointed out that UP has an existing agreement with the police and military on the need for prior coordination before government forces are deployed in the state university’s premises.

Photographs  circulated on social media that showed three police officers in one of the buildings. Students were alarmed after reports surfaced the lawmen were looking for student regent Ivy Joy Taroma.

In response, Sermonia said the policemen were only asking a security officer about the exact location of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy building to hand over a letter of request for students with backgrounds in history and library sciences who can be on-the-job trainees at the PNP Museum.

To prevent another misunderstanding, Concepcion advised the PNP to direct future requests to his office or the chancellor of the concerned UP constituent university.