THE POLYTECHNIC University of the Philippines Department of Psychology withdrew its partnership with Hands Off Our Children Movement Inc. following the expression of disappointment by several students on social media.

“The Department ultimately decided to withdraw its partnership with HOOCM and reassured that they will no longer engage with state agents that might endanger the lives of Iskolar ng Bayan,” according to the PUP Psychology Students Association.

PUP Psychology Department Chairperson Dr. John Mark Distor admitted the department has no knowledge about the red-tagging background of HOOCM.

Distor said it was not their intention to risk the safety of the community, but only to address the mental health concerns of the students.

Earlier this week, the PUP Psychology Department and Psychology Graduate School signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HOOCM on the creation of a Psychology Extension Program.

Under the agreement, PUP will provide mental health services, while HOOCM will turn over the information of students recruited by groups such as Anakbayan, Anakpawis, League of Filipino Students, and Kabataan Partylist, among others.

PUP and HOOCM will also try to get into the bottom of communist terrorist groups’ recruitment and how they agitate students into joining the armed conflict.

But PUP students claimed the health services are being used against students who dissent.

They stressed learners need mental health interventions “because of the university’s failure to address students’ concerns not because of their political ideologies.”

The students also asked HOOCM to take down its posts regarding the partnership to have assurance the welfare and safety of the students will not be compromised.