Barking up the wrong tree

Justifying his unilateral abrogation of the UP-DND Accord, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, “We only want to rid [UP] of bad elements.” If that is so, Lorenzana is barking up the wrong tree.

First, the greatest threat to national security is not these puny student activists but President Duterte, who has professed his love for communist China and, like a faithful acolyte of Xi Jingping, has not moved a finger to counteract Chinese intrusion in the West Philippine Sea. And to prove his undying love for communist China, Mr. Duterte insists on using Sinovac despite its 50-percent efficacy—to hell with public health. So, Lorenzana, there’s your man, not those pesky and loud 16-year-old UP students.

Second, if there is an educational institution Lorenzana needs to look into, it is not UP but the Philippine Military Academy. This institution has produced generals who have been involved in dollar smuggling, corruption, “receiving a little something” in drug raids, extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, and lately, gun-for-hire operations. After having been fed, educated, sheltered, and trained with taxpayer money, these uniformed officers then bite the hand that feeds them.

In short, Lorenzana should clean his own backyard first, pick his own size, and keep his hands off UP.

Evelyn Silay, evelyndsilay@gmail.com