(UPDATED) Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, said he is open to a dialogue with the University of the Philippines (UP) administration, but the latter must first explain why some of its students and alumni ended up with the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

“Yes, I am open to a dialogue with them...I am willing to talk to (them) pero, sagutin muna nila kung bakit namatay itong mga taong ito na kasama ng NPA (but they must explain why these people died with the NPA). These are all... This is a list of students of UP from all UP campuses na namatay during encounters with the armed forces,” he said, as he showed a list that contains the names and photos of UP students and alumni who were killed during clashes between the state forces and the NPA. The NPA is the armed unit of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“Explain to me bakit nangyari ‘to sa kanila (why this happened to them). Why did they fail to protect these young kids from joining this organization and then they get killed?” he added.

On Lorenzana’s list are the names of 17 UP students who were killed during police and military operations against the communist rebels from 1975 to 2020. Among them were:

• Josephine Anne Lapira from UP Manila, a member of Gabriela;
• Martin Cadano Guiller from UP Manila, a member of Kabataan Party-list;
• Graciela Miranda from UP Manila;
• John Carlo Alberto from UP Los Baños, a member of Anakbayan;
• Jomalyn Antonio Randel from UP Los Baños;
• Marvin Christian Cruz from UP Visayas, a member of League of Filipino Students (LFS);
• Rendell Ryan Cagula from UP Mindanao, a member of the LFS and Kabataan Party-list;
• Rachelle Mae Palang from UP Cebu, a member of College Editors Guild of the Philippines;
• Lilette Fatima Raquel from UP Baguio, a member of LFS; and
• Erika Salang Joaquin from the UP Integrated High School.

• Christine Puche, LFS;
• Wendell Gumban, LFS;
• Recca Noel Monte, Gabriela;
• Ma. Lorena Barros, Makibaka;
• Tanya Domingo, a member of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines national executive committee;
• Ian Dorado; and
• Joselito Arne.

• Myles Albasin from UP Cebu, a member of Anakbayan;
• Mariel Alves Domequiel from UP Tacloban, finance officer of the rural missionaries of Eastern Visayas;
• Mira Dalla Destura from UP Tacloban, Legion of Anakbayan Eastern Visayas; and
• Alexander Philip Dizon Abinguna from UP Tacloban, secretary general of Alyansa Han Pagpanalipod Han Tawhanon nga Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas.