The University of the Philippines did not instruct retired professor Clarita Carlos to endorse Vice President Leni Robredo in the May 9 elections. The national university did not endorse any candidate.
A YouTube video posted by PINAS TALK PH on May 31, however, falsely claimed that Carlos revealed she was ordered by UP to support Robredo.
At 0:14 mark, the video narrated:
Viral ngayon sa mundo ng social media ang diumano'y balitang Professor Clarita Carlos nilaglag ang University of the Philippines at ibinulgar na inutusan diumano siya noon na suportahan si Vice President Leni Robredo ngunit ang kaniyang naging pagtanggi ay humantong sa pananatwa sa kaniya ng naturang pamantasan (It’s viral now on social media that Professor Clarita Carlos revealed that the University of the Philippines had ordered her to support Vice President Leni Robredo and her refusal led to her being disowned by UP).
Similarly, the caption of the video reads:
JUST IN: HALA! U.P INILAGLAG NA! PROF. CLARITA MAY IBINULGAR! INUTOSAN SIYANG SUPORTAHAN SI VP LENI (UP was exposed! Prof. Clarita revealed she was ordered to support VP Leni)!
On May 21, UP’s Department of Political Science released an announcement stressing the list of its official and active faculty members to “avoid any misinformation or misrepresentation.”
The notice said affiliation with an institution is important "because it lends credence to the character and credibility of the faculty members."
The official website of the department shows that Carlos is not in the list of professor emeriti, active professors and lecturers.
Hours later, Carlos questioned the timing of the announcement in a Facebook post:
Why this notice suddenly? Because ostensibly, as relayed by our chairman to me last week, the department took a "collective stand" about the issue of my styling myself as ACTIVE when I am RETIRED!!! Really!!!
Carlos added that the announcement was made because of the elections. “It is NOT about being retired or active...but, clearly, it is about my not worshipping in the altar of their chosen candidate,” she said.
The post did not mention that Carlos was ordered by UP or the Department of Political Science to endorse Robredo. Similarly, the official accounts of UP and the said department did not express support for any political candidate.
Carlos was one of the panelists in the SMNI presidential debate in February attended by now incoming president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. On June 8, Marcos chose her to be his National Security Adviser.
As of writing, the video has reached 34,608 views and 597 likes. (KC)
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