NEITHER students nor staff of the University of the Philippines will benefit from the UP Security bill that is pending in Congress, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict said.

It pointed out that only criminals and terrorists will benefit from the measure.

NTF-Elcac Western Visayas task force spokesman Flosemer Chris Gonzales claimed that HB 10171 is unconstitutional.

The bill, he explained, will give a safe harbor for wanted criminals and terrorists, including members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.

HB 10171 aims to formalize the agreement between UP and the Department of National Defense prohibiting security forces from entering university campuses.

“What will now be the implication when House Bill 10171 is enacted? All those hiding, all those with warrants, all those seeking a safe haven who are doing something bad, all they have to do is find a place inside a UP campus,” Gonzales said.

“When we make a law, the question we always ask is who benefits from the law? This House Bill 10171, the government will definitely not benefit from this. These students will not benefit from this. So, who will really benefit from this? The lawbreakers. Those who violate the law,” he added.