THE AKLAN State University denied allegations that communist groups have been recruiting students inside the campus.

ASU President Dr. Emily M. Arangote said university officials are not aware of any recruitment by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

She said that the university is one with peace-loving Aklanons in denouncing criminal activities perpetrated by communist groups.

ASU was included in the list of educational institutions where NPA recruitment was allegedly taking place. The list was recently released by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Arangote said authorities did not inform the university of any recruitment activities.

“What is clear, however, is the mutual partnership of this institution and the government in bringing about development in the countryside as we are situated in a bustling agro-industrial region,” she said.

ASU is a member of the Site Coordinating Team of the RTF-ELCAC project with Kapatiran Para sa Progresong Panlipunan, Inc in upland Ibajay.

“ASU is a front-runner partner in bringing about the attainment of a dreamed and modeled inclusive community,” Arangote said.

She pledged to forge a partnership with the RTF-ELCAC “to alienate our school from terroristic threats.”

“ASU has not and will never support, nor allow, any violent movement aimed at overthrowing the government. We will not allow communist-terrorist groups to destroy the future of our students,” she added.

Arangote also gave assurances that the university will continue to respect the free expression of ideas and uphold the advancement of dignity of human persons, freedom and independence.

“The university governance will sustain the guaranteed right to free speech and assembly of our faculty and students and the whole ASU community,” she said.