PURPOSE OF REQUEST. The West Visayas State University’s (WVSU) College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) campus in Lambunao, Iloilo clarified on Saturday (August 24, 2019) that its request for Philippine Army deployment last June was meant to prevent the intrusion of unauthorized persons. Peter Ernie Paris, dean and campus administrator of WVSU-CAF, said there were no student rallies in the academic institution. (Photo courtesy of WVSU-CAF)
ILOILO CITY -- The West Visayas State University’s (WVSU) College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) campus in Lambunao, Iloilo said on Saturday that its request for the deployment of Philippine Army (PA) personnel was not particularly to prevent recruitment of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
President of the WVSU Luis Sorolla Jr. told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview that the request was to prevent the intrusion of unauthorized persons.
“We requested for military assistance because of the incident that happened in CAF where our guardhouse and administration building were attacked by elements, illegal settlers. They have weapons and firearms,” Sorolla said.
The illegal settlers “harassed” the WVSU-CAF’s security unit because there had been instances when illegal settlers were prohibited by security personnel, Peter Ernie Paris, dean and campus administrator of WVSU-CAF, said in a separate interview on Saturday.
“But the issue was addressed already,” Paris said, adding that there was no damage after the harassment.
Paris denied the Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division’s (3ID) claim that the request for deployment was to address the problem of students holding rallies.
“There were no rallies, particularly expressing opposition to the administration,” he said.
Paris said their verbal request for Army deployment was made in June before the classes started in August.
The assistance from the Army was sought to ensure the safety of the students, he said.
Paris presented the situation of the school during a consultative meeting with the Philippine Army, in which the academe is also a member.
A few days after the consultative meeting, a representative of the Army spoke to Paris regarding the request.
“The incident (harassment perpetrated by illegal settlers) was still fresh, and I presented the scenario. I said that if such a threat will continue, then we will ask for the Army’s assistance,” he said.
He noted that there is a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) detachment at the WVSU-CAF’s 3,400-hectare school reservation.
He added that the academic institution respects student organizations, such as the student councils and interest groups.
“We do not curtail the freedom of students to organize as long as it is within the bounds of the law,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sorolla assured that the WVSU administration has yet to monitor any CPP-NPA recruitment of its students. “So far, we do not have a problem with that,” he said.
The WVSU has campuses in this city's La Paz district and in the towns of Janiuay, Calinog, and Pototan. (PNA)
