We, the Faculty of the University of the Philippines College of Law, without exception or reservation, very strongly take exception and condemn the commentary entitled “Duterte foes want to control UP law school” under the byline “TDT” published by the Daily Tribune on 3 February 2021.

TheThe commentary is an unwarranted and offensive attack that not only sullies and casts doubt upon the personalities of the four candidates currently being considered for the position of Dean of the UP College of Law, but also upon the professionalism and track record of the entire Faculty.

ThisThis is an unacceptable insult to the independence of the UP Law Faculty and a blatant attempt to invite unabashed political interference in a selection process for academic leadership that should be based purely on academic credentials, management experience and competence, professionalism and collegiality, and community within the College and with the University of the Philippines System.

TheThe four candidates for Dean have their respective unique qualities and qualifications that we, as a collegial body and institution, all respect and accept.

WWe affirm our commitment to independence from political interference and influence from any quarter, and to the ultimate objectives of the UP College of Law of teaching in The Grand Manner to guide the finest learning and practice of law to the end that we may achieve distributive justice, a just and humane society, the protection and advancement of human rights, and the highest standards of public service for the Filipino people, all under the Rule of Law.

Statement of theUniversity of the Philippines College of Law Faculty

5 February 2021

ANNA MARIA D. ABADABRAHAM REY M. ACOSTA RAMON QUINTIN C. ALLADODARWIN P. ANGELESJESUSA LORETO A. ARELLANO FRANCIS ALVIN V. ASILOHERMINIO C. BAGRO IIIHERMINIO C. BAGRO IIIRUBEN F. BALANERYAN HARTZELL C. BALISACANEMERSON S. BAÑEZPETER DONNELY A. BAROTCHRYSILLA CARISSA P. BAUTISTAPURISIMO S. BUYCO DAN DAN P. CALICAJEROME D. CANLASOTHELLO C. CARAGEMMA CARIÑO FRANCISCOARNEL PACIANO D. CASANOVAROMMEL J. CASISCELESTE RUTH CEMBRANO-MALLARIMARIMARIA GABRIELA R. CONCEPCIONFIDES C. CORDERO-TANJANNET CRUZ-REGALADO ROWENA DAROY MORALESPATRICIA R. P. SALVADOR DAWAYFLORIAN KIM DAYAGALAYA M. DE LEONJOSEPH BENJAMIN B. DE LEONJOSEPH BENJAMIN B. DE LEONSENEN AGUSTIN S. DE SANTOSJOAN DE VENECIA-FABULGWEN G. DE VERAGABRIEL A. DEEMA. SOLEDAD MARGARITA DERIQUITO-MAWISJOSE JESUS M. DISINIJOSE JESUS M. DISINIMA. GISELLA N. DIZON-REYESMICHELLE S.B. DY

AISSA V. ENCARNACIONEDUARDO C. ESCAÑOELVIRA V. ESCUETA-DUAVITJACQUELINE JOYCE F. ESPENILLAABDIEL DAN ELIJAH S. FAJARDOMYRNA S. FELICIANOROBEROBERTO L. FIGUEROAALEX FERDINAND S. FIDERMIA G. GENTUGAYACARLO MIGUEL ROMEO S. GOCECILIA THERESE T. GUIAOTERESITA J. HERBOSACARLOS S. HERNANDEZ, JR.CONCEPCION L. JARDELEZCONCEPCION L. JARDELEZATHEODORE JOSEPH M. JUMAMILKESTERSON T. KUAJO BLANCA LABAYCHRISTOPHER JOHN P. LAOARLENE G. LAPUZ URETAMA. TANYA KARINA A. LATMA. CAROLINMA. CAROLINA T. LEGARDAAMANDO VIRGIL D. LIGUTANGLENDA T. LITONGVICTORIA V. LOANZONJOHANNA ALERIA P. LORENZODINA D. LUCENARIOSANDRA MAE T. MAGALANGRRYAN ANTHONY S. MALITDONNA PATRICIA C. MANLANGITMONICA JOY M. MARCELOMARIA ROSARIO MARTE-REDIANGMA. GOLDA GIGI G. MIÑOZAALFREDO B. MOLO IIIALBERTO T. MUYOTCHRISCHRISTOPHER LOUIE D. OCAMPOLAWRENCE GERARD T. ORTIZANDRE C. PALACIOS

NOMINEES FOR DEAN

ELIZABETH AGUILING- JAY L. SANDRA MARIE O. EDGARDO CARLO L. PANGALANGAN BATONGBACAL CORONEL VISTAN, II

UP COLLEGE OF LAW FACULTY

JOSE MIGUEL C. PALARCARENATO M. PAMBIDRAPHAEL A. PANGALANGAN DIVINA GRACIA E. PEDRONCARLA S. PINGULRONALD D. POLICARPIOPPATRICIA-ANN T. PRODIGALIDADROGELIO V. QUEVEDOGRACE P. QUEVEDO-PANAGSAGANPAUL DENNIS A. QUINTEROSALMA PIR T. RASULOLIVER XAVIER A. REYESJOSEPHINE P. RIMA-SANTIAGOANANA MARGARITA A. RODRIGUEZCHARLTON JULES P. ROMEROMA. ISABEL P. ROMEROMARY GRACE ANNE ROSALES-STO.DOMINGORODERICK R.C. SALAZAR IIIJOSE S. SAMSON IIIBRYAN A. SAN JUAN

TEODULO ANTONIO G. SAN JUAN, JR.DIONNE MARIE M. SANCHEZSIMONETTE E. SIBAL-PULIDORONALD O. SOLISMARY ROSE S. TANFINA BERNADETTE D. TANTUICOTHEODORE O. TETHEODORE O. TEMICHAEL T. TIU, JR. RUBY ROSSELLE L. TUGADECRISOSTOMO A. URIBEARNELL P. UYCHOCOFLORDELIZA C. VARGAS-TRINIDADRAUL T. VASQUEZSUSAN D. VILLANUESUSAN D. VILLANUEVA ERNESTINE CARMEN JO D. VILLAREAL-FERNANDOVIRGINIA B. VIRAYYVETTE T. YANEZA-ESPORLASLEE EDSON P. YARCIAANTHONY CHARLEMAGNE C. YUMA. KRISTINA S. ZAMORA

UP COLLEGE OF LAW FACULTY