UP denies recruiting students for communist party

The University of the Philippines (UP) has denied President Rodrigo Duterte's accusation that it recruits students for the communist party.

Duterte had threatened to defund UP, mistakenly believing the university initiated a call for an academic strike.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque suggested that Duterte might have confused UP with Ateneo de Manila University, which was the actual initiator of the academic strike.

UP vice president for public affairs Elena Pernia clarified that UP is an educational institution focused on teaching, research, and public service, not recruitment for any political party.

Pernia emphasized that while UP has a history of activism, it is not anti-government but rather the national university, fostering a liberal environment.