SENATOR Leila de Lima on Tuesday expressed alarm over reports that students, faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines-Mindanao were harassed following allegations of New People’s Army recruitment in the campus.

De Lima said the decision of the National Security Council to disseminate a report on the alleged NPA recruitment in campus was uncalled for.

“The NCS’s move to use its social media to share a report about the alleged recruitment of NPA in UP Mindanao, which is yet to be proven, is uncalled for as it did more harm than good,” she said.

“We support the fight against insurgency, but not at the expense of the safety of innocent individuals, including teachers, staff and students, who are now reportedly experiencing harassment on the ground and on social media because of the recent red-tagging incident,” she added.

The NSC shared a post of a UP alumnus on Facebook that there is “active recruitment in UP campuses.”

UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao said that the post caused distress to students and staff who have been put at risk.

De Lima urged the government to protect the students and staff of UP Mindanao and other red-tagged campuses.

“Merely sharing the content online will not prove any allegations of supposed recruitment. Tigilan na ang kultura ng dahas, panghaharass at red-tagging. Tigilan na ang mga paratang na walang sapat na basehan, na hindi lang nakasisira ng integridad ng tao o institusyon, kundi naglalagay din sa peligro ng buhay ng mga inosenteng nadadamay o sadyang dinadamay,” the senator said.

“I also urge the NSC to thoroughly investigate this allegation, to prove if it is indeed true and bring the perpetrators to justice, or issue public clarification if proven otherwise,” she added.