Rep. Edcel C. Lagman exhorted Filipinos to “courageously fight for and relish freedom, and exercise right to expression and dissent fearless of prior restraint or subsequent reprisal.”

Lagman made this call in his response as the “Most Distinguished Alumnus for 2022” which was conferred by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association.

The Albay solon likewise underscored that “critical thinking is the hallmark of UP” and the right to dissent “is integral to a free society and is at the heart of democracy.”

The ceremonies for this year’s distinguished alumni awards were held on November 11, 2022 at the Bahay ng Alumni at the UP Diliman Campus.

Lagman also urged Filipinos to be “sentinels of truth and verities against the purveyors of lies and false news” as inordinate disinformation “malevolently manipulates public opinion and the electoral will.”

EDCEL C. LAGMAN