THE University of the Philippines Cebu community condemned the vandalism of the facade of the campus' Oblation Square on Friday, March 29.
In a statement, UP Cebu chancellor Liza Corro said the move to vandalize the facade of the Oblation Square was meant to intimidate their students and faculty members.
“Such act is an attack to our institution as a liberal academic community that promotes critical thinking. It is a clear attempt to create fear and intimidation among our constituency and perpetuate baseless red-tagging to constrain free discourse of ideas. We do not tolerate this,” Corro said in her statement sent to SunStar Cebu.
Corro has also instructed officials of the campus to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident.
On Friday, campus officials and students were shocked after finding graffiti with the words “CPP NPA SALOT” on the facade of the Oblation Square.
The vandalism occurred coincidentally on the 50th founding anniversary of the New People’s Army.
The Police Regional Office 7, on its part, has already sent personnel to determine those responsible for the vandalism.
Police Brigadier Gen. Debold Sinas, PRO 7 director, said he has already ordered the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to investigate the incident.
“I have spoken to Col. Royima Garma concerning the investigation. I have ordered her to check all available CCTV cameras near the area to determine who conduct the vandalism. I believe that someone who is angry with the university is behind it,” Sinas told reporters.
Solidarity
“We are in solidarity with the rest of the UP Cebu community in ensuring that UP Cebu remains safe space for free academic discourse and assembly to further enrich knowledge and understanding about our country’s history, culture and politics. We maintain that the University of the Philippines Cebu as a national university will continue to promote academic freedom, nationalism and love of country among our iskolar ng bayan,” Corro said.
Corro also urged the police to investigate the matter and “keep those responsible into account.”
In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, members of the Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante (NKE) UP Cebu chapter also condemned the vandalism incident.
The group accused the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Armed Forces of the Philippines which they believed to be behind the vandalism.
"Only cowards like Duterte and his AFP would involve themselves in baseless and malicious tactics like this. But we must not be discouraged for this only means that our ongoing fight for national liberation is effective in shaking the oppressive ruling elite in their seats," the group said, in their statement.
Come forward
Separately, Garma urged those who witnessed to come forward and provide them of what they know.
She also denied that members of the police were behind the vandalism.
Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, commander of the AFP Central Command (Centcom) based in Cebu City, denied allegations that military personnel may have been behind the act.
“We don’t do that. The people na lagi na peperwisyo sa mga gawain nila ang may kagagawan nyan. Fifty years of making peoples lives miserable,” Clement told Superbalita Cebu. (With AYB of Superbalita Cebu/JKV)