Tag: academic freedom

Pahayag ng mga Opisina ng Sectoral Regents Hinggil sa Pag-aresto kay Dating Pangulong Duterte

Inaresto si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte alas-9:20 ng umaga ng Marso 11, 2025, pagdating niya sa Maynila galing sa Hong Kong. Pormal nang isinampa ng Philippine Prosecutor General ang arrest warrant mula sa International Criminal Court (ICC) para sa mga kasong krimen laban sa sangkatauhan (crimes against humanity), na natanggap ng INTERPOL Manila kaninang umaga. Sa ngayon, nasa kustodiya siya ng PNP at iniulat na nasa maayos na kalusugan. Ang kaso laban kay Duterte ay batay sa kanyang pananagutan sa madugong giyera kontra droga mula 2016 hanggang 2022. Humantong ito sa libu-libong ekstrahudisyal na pamamaslang, at direktang resulta ng kanyang tuwirang utos at kabiguang panagutin ang mga salarin sa pamamaslang. Sa panahong ito ay mas lalo ding tumindi ang panunupil at brutalidad ng Estado, lalo na laban sa progresibong oposisyon. Sagad-sagaran din ang mga naging pag-atake sa kalayaang akademiko, at tinarget ang mga guro, propesor, estudyante at kawani na nagsalita laban sa mga katiwalian at abuso ng Estado. Sa ilalim ng Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, naging legal ang pag-aresto nang walang mandamyento, pinalawig ang detensiyon, at pinatindi ang red-tagging sa mga aktibista, mamamahayag, at iba pang tumututol sa kanyang rehimen. Mahalagang hakbang ang pag-arestong ito kay Duterte para mabigyan ng hustisya ang libu-libong napaslang sa kanyang termino bilang pangulo at kung mapatunayan sa ICC na nagkasala siya’y dapat maparuhasan para hindi na matularan. Pero mahaba pa ang laban. Nananatili pa rin ang mga institusyong naging kasabwat sa kanyang mga krimen. Kakailanganin ang patuloy na pagmamatyag ng mga Pilipino, ang walang pagod na paglaban ng mga biktima at tagapagtanggol ng karapatan, at ang suporta ng pandaigdigang komunidad para matiyak ang hustisya para sa mga biktima at sa mga mamamayang Pilipino. #JusticeForEJKVictims #DefendAcadFreedom #StopTheKillings #EndImpunity Hon. Francesca Mariae M. Duran UP Student Regent Hon. Early Sol Gadong UP Faculty Regent Hon. Marie Theresa G.S. Alambra UP Staff Regent

OFR Statement on the 39th Anniversary of 1986 EDSA People Power Uprising

The Office of the Faculty Regent (OFR) of the University of the Philippines (UP) System joins the UP community and the entire country in commemorating the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power uprising. On this day, we remember that moment in history when the Filipino people stood up and bravely faced and defeated the tyranny of the Marcos Sr. dictatorship.We take part in the commemoration in part to honor the immense sacrifices made by members of our UP community and countless Filipinos who participated in the active resistance against the dictatorship for two decades. Many of them paid the ultimate price with their lives. Their legacy of selfless sacrifice and nationalism moves us to carry on with our struggle for justice and peace, and commitment to public service.We wish to acknowledge the decision of UP President Angelo A. Jimenez to declare February 25 as Alternative Learning Day in recognition of the historic 1986 People Power uprising. This declaration allows us to fulfill our collective duty to #NeverForget the inequities of the dictatorship and tyrannical rule, while providing us a crucial space for critical reflection and learning.We also understand why some members of our faculty body have expressed that UP should have taken a more progressive stand—similar to other universities that suspended work and classes—and that it could have been declared more promptly. We now move forward and take appropriate action to uphold the true spirit of the 1986 uprising. We must stand united against any attempt to revise history, normalize impunity, or erode public accountability.Our faculty members are crucial in shaping the minds of the youth who in turn will shape the future of the nation. We enjoin them to exercise their right to assemble, speak out, and express collective indignation against corruption, historical distortion, and the ongoing neglect of social services including education. We urge members of our community to participate in the multiple protest actions happening across the country today and resist efforts to silence or diminish the lessons of our past.Today is an opportunity for both commemoration and engagement. Let us make sure that progressive learning and critical thinking extend beyond our classrooms. By doing this, we honor the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom and reaffirm our commitment to a society that upholds good governance, justice, and accountability.Mabuhay ang diwa ng EDSA!#ResistTyranny#DefendAcademicFreedomHon. Early Sol A. GadongFaculty Regent, UP System

Faculty Regent holds consultation with UP Diliman basic education faculty on job security, well-being

The UP Office of the Faculty Regent (OFR) convened faculty members from the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) and the UP College of Education for a crucial discussion on their working conditions and welfare. Titled “BATAYAN: Pagbabalita’t Talakayan tungo sa Kaayohan ng UP Basic Education Faculty,” the consultation took place on February 10, 2025, at Room 108, Benitez Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The dialogue underscored the mounting challenges faced by basic education (BE) faculty, including excessive workloads, the rise of contractual employment, and the persistent lack of plantilla (permanent) positions. Participants voiced concerns over job security, economic stability, and the need for stronger academic freedom and democratic governance within the university. Ruby Ana Bernardo, president of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Union-NCR, provided insight into the dire situation of BE teachers across the National Capital Region, highlighting their parallel struggles with UP educators—from work overload and inadequate compensation to the fight for job security. Bernardo also shed light on the alarming cases of red-tagging and vilification faced by ACT Union leaders and members who assert their rights. Despite these threats, the union has made significant strides, successfully negotiating a collective negotiation agreement (CNA) with the Department of Education (DepEd) to uphold the rights and welfare of public school teachers. UP Faculty Regent Early Sol Gadong shared the issues and resolutions raised during the Basic Education Summit held last year and, with Teacher Katrina Paula Ortega, director-at-large of the All UP Academic Employees Union, detailed the specific hardships confronting UPIS faculty, including:  Academic Burdens. Heavy workloads, sluggish hiring processes, high attrition rates, and the absence of clear policies on teaching load credits, especially regarding research expectations. Faculty Well-being. Lack of mental health support and inadequate workplace conditions that exacerbate the mental toll of overwork. Economic Security. Delayed salary releases for newly hired faculty and the urgent need for additional benefits such as shuttle services and housing support. Academic Freedom and Governance. Calls for the establishment of a system-wide Committee on the Promotion and Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights, alongside demands for greater transparency and democratic governance, and protection of academic freedom in UP’s basic education units. Ortega also outlined the Academic Union’s efforts to address these concerns and mobilize faculty members to collectively push for systemic reforms at the local, university, and national levels. The discussion extended to broader issues, such as inconsistencies in crediting systems across UP’s four BE units and concerns over the standardization of quality assurance evaluations. UPIS teachers expressed willingness to sustain the dialogue and strengthen collective efforts to implement resolutions and push for meaningful reforms. Faculty Regent Gadong stressed that real, lasting improvements in faculty welfare and institutional policies can only be achieved through sustained, organized action. The consultation closed with a strong call for unity and continued advocacy to secure the rights and well-being of UP’s basic education faculty.