Academic Freedom Advocates Highlight Rising Threats to Universities at PPSA 2026 Roundtable

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Scholars, faculty leaders, student advocates, and academic workers convened during the 2026 International Conference of the Philippine Political Science Association (PPSA) to examine the worsening condition of academic freedom in the Philippines amid increasing reports of red-tagging, surveillance, militarization, and attacks on students and educators.

The roundtable discussion, titled “Academic Freedom Under Pressure: Emerging Trends, Risks, and Solidarity in the Philippines,” was organized by the Network in Defense of Historical Truth and Academic Freedom in partnership with PPSA and the All UP Academic Employees Union, with support from the Southeast Asia Coalition for Academic Freedom, and hosted by Silliman University.

In his opening remarks, Ramon Guillermo of the University of the Philippines Center for International Studies situated the discussion within the broader context of recent student killings and ongoing threats faced by university communities. He emphasized the role of universities as spaces for critical thinking, conscience, and democratic engagement, while underscoring the urgency of addressing attacks on academic freedom and human rights.

Sol Iglesias of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science presented monitoring data and documented cases of academic freedom violations collected through research initiatives and academic freedom networks. She discussed the decline of academic freedom indicators in the Philippines alongside broader democratic backsliding, pointing to increasing incidents involving red-tagging, harassment, surveillance, and restrictions on students and faculty. Iglesias also raised concerns regarding military and police partnerships with universities, arguing that these arrangements risk normalizing state security intrusion into academic life while undermining institutional autonomy and campus safety.

UP Faculty Regent Early Sol Gadong framed academic freedom as inseparable from the collective welfare, dignity, and security of academic communities. Drawing from consultations with faculty regents from state universities and colleges nationwide, Gadong described how administrative pressure, surveillance, and political constraints increasingly shape the conditions under which teaching, research, and public engagement are conducted. She also highlighted the importance of multisectoral alliances among faculty, students, and community organizations in defending democratic spaces within educational institutions.

Carl Marc Ramota of UP Manila and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers–Philippines focused on the impact of counterinsurgency policies, anti-terror legislation, and security-sector interventions on campuses and unions. He discussed incidents involving police profiling of academic workers, surveillance activities within campuses, and the apprehension of university personnel inside university premises. Ramota also explained ongoing efforts within the UP system to establish academic freedom and human rights committees designed to monitor violations, provide support for affected constituents, and institutionalize protections for students, faculty, and staff.

Jornie Lumintao of Central Mindanao University described what she characterized as “reputational governance” in universities, where institutional concerns over public image, political relationships, and government funding create subtle pressures discouraging criticism and dissent. She noted that in many state universities, administrators must navigate complex relationships with political elites and funding agencies, producing environments where academic freedom is constrained not only through overt censorship but also through institutional self-regulation and fear of political repercussions.

Mary Jane Najarila of Saint Louis University shared accounts from student leaders and educators concerning rising student fees, intensified campus surveillance, online harassment, and restrictive disciplinary practices. She also discussed how excessive accreditation requirements and administrative workloads place heavy burdens on teachers, limiting opportunities for organizing, reflection, and critical engagement. Najarila further highlighted the experiences of students subjected to monitoring and intimidation both online and within university spaces.

Throughout the discussion, panelists and participants repeatedly raised concerns regarding Executive Order №70, the Anti-Terrorism Act, and the abrogation of the UP–Department of National Defense Accord, which many speakers identified as contributing to an increasingly securitized environment for educational institutions. Participants argued that counterinsurgency frameworks have blurred distinctions between activism, dissent, and armed rebellion, exposing students, faculty, researchers, and community workers to heightened risks.

The roundtable concluded with calls for stronger solidarity among universities, unions, student organizations, civil society groups, and international academic freedom networks. Among the proposals raised were the creation of local academic freedom observatories, expanded campus-based protection mechanisms, broader human rights education initiatives, and stronger institutional commitments to safeguarding democratic participation and critical inquiry within educational institutions.

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