PNP says Barangay UP Campus a ‘crime hotspot’ in Quezon City

INDIGNATION A wave of indignation sweeps University of the Philippines campuses, including the main one in Diliman, Quezon City, over the Department of National Defense’s unilateral abrogation of its June 30, 1989, accord with the UP System that bars policemen and soldiers from its campuses. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Barangay UP Campus is a “crime hotspot” in Quezon City as it ranks 20th in the peace and order indicator in the city since 2016.

In a statement released Friday, PNP spokesman Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana cited the consistent “trend of non-index crime incidents” in Barangay UP Campus.

Barangay UP Campus is part of the expansive University of the Philippines (UP) property in Diliman, Quezon City, where the UP campus is also located.

The 493-hectare UP Diliman property covers eight barangays in Quezon City: UP Campus, Krus na Ligas, San Vicente, Botocan, Culiat, Old Capitol Site, Pansol, and Vasra. Within these areas are informal communities.

“During a dialogue among representatives from the government security sector and the academe, CHED [Commission on Higher Education] authorities have noted the ‘prevalence of the drug problem’ in the state university and its police force’s inability to address crime and public safety issues in campus,” said Usana.

The police force spokesperson also recorded prevalent non-index crime incidents including 72 cases of illegal gambling, 21 malicious mischief, 43 Violence against women and children, four direct assault, three forcible abductions, 14 homicide, five acts of lasciviousness, 13 estafa, 43 child abuse, 11 public health violations, and two cases of obstructions of justice in Barangay UP Campus.

The PNP issued the statement in the wake of the unilateral abrogation by the Department of National Defense of an agreement with UP that prevents the presence of military and police personnel inside the university’s campuses without prior permission.

With the PNP’s presence inside the UP Diliman campus restricted, security for students, faculty and office personnel inside the campus is being provided by the UP Diliman Police.

The UP Diliman Police is at present composed of 42 officers, nine administrative staff, and 240 security guards, Usana said.

The PNP official added that the UP Diliman Police covers over 1,500 full-time faculty members, 1,700 regular administrative and technical support personnel, and more than 27,000 students.

INQUIRER.net sought comment from the University of the Philippines administration on the PNP’s observation on the peace and order situation in Barangay UP Campus and on the campus itself, but has yet to receive a reply, as of posting.

The Department of National Defense said it decided to abrogate its agreement with UP to pursue its counterinsurgency operations, specifically the alleged recruitment of communist rebels among students inside UP campuses.

But UP President Danilo Concepcion said the UP-DND accord termination is unnecessary and unwarranted as it may lead to “ mistrust.”

RELATED STORY: PNP: 1,624 crime incidents recorded in Barangay UP Campus in past 4 years

/MUF