UP says open for security officers to be trained by PNP

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) on Wednesday said it is open to have its security officers be trained by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain peace and order in its campuses.

“The UP, in the interest of maintaining peace and order in all its campuses nationwide, is open to the idea of training its police and security guards to beef up their capabilities,” Elena Pernia, UP Vice President for Public Affairs, told INQUIRER.net in an email interview.

She said police officers may enter UP campuses to train the UP police — the university’s own security officers — and security guards but only “with proper coordination.”

Pernia’s comment follows the pronouncement of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero De Vera on Tuesday that security officers of the university are not capable to address the alleged prevalence of illegal drugs in some parts of UP and other security concerns in the premier state university. De Vera was UP Vice President for Public Affairs from 2011 to 2016.

READ: CHED chair says ‘there is prevalence of drugs’ in ‘portions of UP campus’

De Vera also expressed willingness to consider “very basic sharing of protocols” and “common training” between the PNP and security officers of UP “so that the standard enforcement of the UP Police will be up to par.” 

When asked if she agrees that parts of the university are infested by illegal drugs, Pernia said that “as with many densely populated places in the country, there could be pockets and instances of drug abuse on campus.”

“As we should do elsewhere, such cases need a combination of legal, medical, and psychosocial responses,” she said.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde earlier said the national police have not identified a suspected drug personality inside UP campuses but said they have previously made arrests near its vicinity.

Incidentally, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa had also proposed that police and military officers be allowed to enter universities to make students aware of the advocacies of the government amid alleged recruitment of students into the armed rebellion. /je