The UP Diliman University Council upholds the recent statements of UP School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS), UPD Office of the Chancellor Executive Staff (OCES), and the UP System-wide University Library Council regarding the recent removal of allegedly subversive books from libraries of higher education institutions (HEIs) namely the Kalinga State University, Isabela State University, and Aklan State University.

The removal of books based on ideological criteria is anathema to academic freedom and undermines the role of academic institutions as repositories of thought. This sets a dangerous precedent and a move towards the censorship of our universities.

We are appalled that our call for solidarity for all HEIs to participate in the defense of academic freedom has been used by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair J. Prospero De Vera III to criticize UP and its leaders. As such he has failed to fulfill CHED’s mandate as stated in Republic Act No. 7722, which is the defense of academic freedom.

The UP Diliman University Council is composed of the chancellor (serving as chair), professors, associate professors, and assistant professors.