(29 Sep 2021) An educator lamented the removal of books and documents published by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in at least three state university libraries.
The Kalinga State University (KSU), Isabela State University (ISU), and Aklan State University (ASU) pulled out books authored by or related to the NDFP to supposedly “protect” the youth and students from insurgent ideology.
The books include the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHIHL); NDFP Declaration and Program of Action for the Rights, Protection, and Welfare of Children; and the Government of the Philippines-NDFP Peace Negotiations Major Arguments.
In a lengthy Facebook post, educator and book designer Karl Castro said the removal of the said books “impoverishes free speech and democracy” in a time when Filipino students are still unable to return to physical classrooms and access libraries due to pandemic.
Find out more from the original news here.
In other news, the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) will not remove from its libraries reading materials and books considered as “subversive” by the government’s anti-insurgency task force, saying “libraries are an extension of academic freedom.” Read more here.
