FIFTY-NINE organizations at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines signed a manifesto to express their opposition to the proposed abrogation of the security accord between the university and the Department of National Defense.

The groups noted that the agreement was made to protect members of the PUP community.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier terminated a similar agreement between the DND and the University of the Philippines.

“Sa ganitong kalagayan, mariin naming kinokondena, kasama ang buong komunidad ng PUP, ang patuloy na pag-atake ng tambalang Duterte-Lorenzana sa kalayaang akademiko at kalayaang makapagpahayag, imbes na unahin ang mga problemang lalong naglulugmok sa mamamayan sa kahirapan dulot ng pandemya,” the groups posted on UnitedPUP’s Facebook page.

“Hindi sagot ang pagbali sa PUP-DND Accord sa mga problema at isyung panlipunan na kinakaharap ng sambayanan. Pagpapatibay lamang ito na bigo ang administrasyong Duterte sa mga pangakong binitawan nito na nagbunsod upang maluklok ito sa puwesto at dahil namumulat na ang maraming bilang ng mamamayan sa ilusyong nambulag sa kanila,” they added.

The Duterte Youth Partylist earlier expressed its support to the termination of the DND-PUP accord.

The agreements prohibit military personnel from entering campuses without prior notice.