Suma’t Suri – Basic Education Summit 2024 Report
Suma’t Suri: UP Basic Education Summit 2024 was a two-day summit of teachers of basic education in the different Constituent Units (CUs) of the University of the Philippines (UP) System. The summit tackled the issues concerning the situation of the teachers in basic education in UP.
Protection of academic freedom must be UP’s priority
Faculty Regent calls for creation of UP committee on academic freedom 7 February 2023 University of the Philippines (UP) Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota joined officials of the University and the All U.P. Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU), members of the faculty in a press conference at the Quezon Hall in UP Diliman, a day after the arrest of union leader, Dr. Melania Flores in her residence inside the campus. Dr. Flores was released yesterday after posting with the help of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, and was accompanied by the Faculty Regent, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, and AUPAEU Vice President for Faculty Rommel Rodriguez at the Quezon City Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit in Camp Karingal. Faculty Regent Ramota called for an investigation on the serious lapses on protocol by the arresting officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP), saying Dr. Flores’ arrest inside the Diliman campus violated the UP – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Agreement. One of the provisions of the 1992 Accord stipulated that “the service of search or arrest warrants on any UP student, faculty, employees, or invited participants in any official activity shall, as far as practicable, be done after prior notification is given the UP President, or Chancellor of the constituent university, or Dean of the regional unit concerned, or their respective officers-in-charge in the event of their absence.” The UP Diliman administration also confirmed that PNP authorities did not coordinate with them before the arrest inside the campus was made. Regent Ramota said the arrest of Dr. Flores sets a dangerous precedent for all UP constituents and the academic community in all institutions of learning, and urged the University officials to use all administrative and legal resources to promote and uphold academic freedom. “At the heart of the University is the exercise of academic freedom, and its promotion and protection must be the priority of all its administrators,” Faculty Regent Ramota pointed out. “It is the University’s duty to promote and protect academic freedom amid disinformation, historical distortion, and wanton disregard of people’s rights,” Faculty Regent Ramota said. He added that the abduction incident in Cebu last month and Dr. Flores’ arrest highlight the need for coordinated efforts both at the level of the UP System and constituent university. The proposal for the establishment of a Committee on the Promotion and Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights was adopted in last week’s Tipunan system-wide consultative meeting organized by the Office of the Faculty Regent. Regent Ramota plans to present the adopted proposal before the Board of Regents and the incoming administration of UP President Angelo Jimenez this month. #
Faculty Regent calls for investigation on union leader’s arrest in Diliman campus, hits protocol lapses
6 February 2023 Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota condemned the arrest of Dr. Melania Flores, immediate past President of the All U.P. Academic Employees Union, saying it’s a violation of the accord between the University and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). He called for the immediate release of Dr. Flores, and an impartial investigation on the serious lapses on protocol by the Philippine National Police. Regent Ramota said the arrest made inside the campus violates both the UP-DILG accord, and Dr. Flores’ Miranda rights. He added that there was no prior coordination with Diliman authorities on the planned apprehension, and the arresting officers reportedly introduced themselves as employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development out to give aid to households. The Faculty Regent said the arrest comes in the wake of a series of documented cases of harassment and intimidation against UP constituents, the latest being the abduction of UP Cebu lecturer Armand Dayoha and alumna, Dyan Gumanao on January 10. Regent Ramota pointed out that Dr. Flores’ arrest, and the Cebu abduction incident highlight the need for the institutionalization of a mechanism for monitoring and quick response against rights violations. The Faculty Regent urged the University to use its full administrative and legal machinery to uphold and protect its constituency from intrusion, and keep its campuses a safe haven for political thought and action. One of the proposals adopted in the Office of the Faculty Regent’s first Tipunan system-wide consultative meeting held on February 2 in UP Manila is the establishment of a Committee on the Promotion and Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights, both at the System and constituent university levels. Faculty Regent Ramota plans to present the consolidated proposals before the Board of Regents and the administration of incoming UP President Angelo Jimenez for approval. # #DefendAcademicFreedom#HandsOffOurUnionists#HandsOffOurTeachers
UP Faculty Regent calls for impartial investigation on Cebu abduction, creation of UP committee on acad freedom
Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota joins the call of the UP community and human rights advocates for an impartial investigation and accountability on the abduction of University of the Philippines Cebu (UPC) lecturer Armand Jake Dayoha, and alumna, April Dyan Gumanao on January 10, 2023 at the Cebu City port area. Dayoha and Gumanao have been located six days after with the help of the UP Cebu administration.
UP OFR calls for impartial investigation on Cebu abduction
Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota joins the call of the UP community and human rights advocates for an impartial investigation and accountability on the abduction of UP Cebu (UPC) lecturer Armand Jake Dayoha, and alumna, April Dyan Gumanao on January 10, 2023 at the Cebu City port area. Dayoha and Gumanao have been located six days after with the help of the UP Cebu administration.
OSR Statement Continued Red-tagging and Attacks to the University
We, the UP Sectoral Regents, stand that red-tagging is a blatant attack on the sectors we represent and the whole UP community. Red-tagging has become an ever-present issue for many of our progressive activists and leaders that it poses to invalidate incidents in the future.
Statement of the UPD University Council on the Upcoming National Elections
As the country prepares for the 2022 national elections, the University Council of the University of the Philippines Diliman calls on Filipino voters to not only exercise their right to vote, but also critically evaluate their choices for the top positions in government.