The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), a national alliance of student councils, demanded the immediate scrapping of all agreements between universities and the state’s armed forces. This followed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 79th ID’s massacre of 19 individuals, including nine civilians, in Toboso, Negros Occidental. The civilians included student leader and UP Diliman student council member Alyssa Alano.

“No deals with fascists!” the NUSP declared. It said the continued presence of the military and police fuels red-tagging, weakens academic freedom, and endangers students and teachers.

The agreements and military activities criticized by the NUSP include the UP-AFP Declaration of Cooperation, Ateneo and AFP Declaration of Cooperation, the UST Research Colloquium where NTF-Eclac was the keynote guest, the Philippine Air Force Exhibit at UST, and the NTF-Elcac Seminar at PUP ROTC.

“Collusion with state agents is a threat, not academic freedom,” the alliance said.

It added that administrations must stop red-taggers and human rights violators from entering schools to protect student safety and academic freedom.

“Academic spaces must remain independent,” the alliance said. Militarizing universities can shift research priorities and suppress dissenting voices.

“The AFP, PNP, NTF-ELCAC, and government agencies have long been proven to not serve and defend the people,” it said. “They serve corrupt politicians, landlords, big businessmen, and foreign entities that have long oppressed the people.”

They condemned Ferdinand Marcos Jr for continuing to fund operations that kill and silence the people and for being inutile in addressing the people’s grievances that are the root of their resistance.