THE BOARD of Regents of the University of the Philippines urged Congress to “declare as null and void” the motion for reconsideration of the approval of House Bill 10171 which will institutionalize the abrogated UP-Department of National Defense Accord.

The university said the UP-BOR has approved and adopted a resolution that commends the authors of the measure and the members of the House of Representatives “who heeded the calls of the UP community to defend academic freedom and who worked and fought for the approval of HB No. 10171.”

“The Resolution named Reps. Sarah Jane Elago, Isagani Zarate, France Castro, Ferdinand Gaite, Arlene Brosas, Eufemia Cullamat, and Jose Christopher Belmote, who moved to declare as null and void the reconsideration of the approval on the third reading of HB No. 10171, citing the reconsideration as a violation of Section 106 of the Rules of the 18th Congress,” the resolution read.

The DND scrapped the security agreement with UP that prevented state forces from entering its campuses in January.

Signed in 1989, the accord mandates the state forces to notify the university before they can enter UP campuses.

The Board resolution calls on the Senate to take action and approve the bill filed by Senator Joel Villanueva.

“The Resolution also requests the DND and the DILG to continue to observe and enforce the principles, objectives and guidelines of the 1989 UP-DND Accord and the 1992 UP-DILG Accord as an act of good faith in the light of the recent development in Congress seeking to enact them into law,” UP pointed out.

House Bill 10171 was approved via 179 votes on September 21.

However, in October, Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla appealed to reconsider the approval of the measure.