THE Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has filed a resolution expressing condemnation of the repression of Academic Freedom and Political Rights in the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Arlene Brosas and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro filed House Resolution 1976.

The lawmakers, in their resolution, called for the immediate termination of the UP-DND accord and sought the assurance that the academic freedom of higher education institutions as zones of peace will be respected.

The resolution cited the February 24, 2024, Democracy Walk of the students from De La Salle University-Dasmariñas.

The event was organized by the University of the Philippines to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Uprising.

“In this Democracy Walk, students from progressive organizations also raised calls on various national issues, such as their pushback against the proposed Charter Change, a manifestation of students’ right to organization, and freedom of expression, which are essential components of academic freedom,” the resolution read.

Following the said event, officials and agents of the DLSU-D administration, through the Investigation Section Head of Student Welfare and Formation Office Jonathan Villa attempted to disrupt the student activity, citing violations of University Policies which they claimed to be superior to student and constitutional rights.

Student leader Paolo Tarra, a second-year AB Psychology student, human rights worker, the coordinator of the Coalition Concerned Lasallians, an alliance of student organizations from DLSU-D, and a participant of the Democracy Walk, served as the representative of the students in negotiating the continuation of the activity.

Two months later, the DLSU-D acted on a complaint against Tarra and initiated proceedings to punish exclusion and later recommended the sanction of non-readmission.

Tarra was frequently, repeatedly, and persistently subjected to threats, harassment, and intimidation by allegedly connected to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, including red-tagging and surveillance.