Student leader Virgiio Cortado Jr. last week lashed out at Catanduanes State University President Patrick Alaine T. Azanza and the Board of Regents for deferring his oathtaking as elected president of the University
Student Council (USC).
In a lengthy post on social media, Cortado, who got 4,696 out of the 6,009 votes cast during the USC polls, expressed his anger and frustration at the decision of the BOR to issue a resolution delaying his oathtaking before the president allegedly due to a complaint questioning his qualification to run in the student elections five months ago.
He said he could not recall having violated any rule or regulation in the University Handbook and in the USC Constitution.
According to the Aug. 7, 2024 memorandum from Acting Board Secretary Atty. Nikko Rey Aicetel Manlangit-Santelices, the BOR deferred and held in abeyance Cordato’s oathtaking “until the issues on your qualification are resolved, and after the conduct of an investigation by the Board Committee constituted for the purpose to be chaired by Regent Ramil Joselito B. Tamayo” during its 2nd Quarter 2024 meeting held on Aug. 2.
The memo also informed that the BOR resolved to allow all the other elected officers of the USC, from vice president down to the lowest officers, and the elected officers of the College Student Council of the different colleges to take their oath of office before the president.
Cortado was not invited to the BOR meeting to explain his side.
In his post, he recalled that as early as July 11, he had already discussed preparations for the next school year with Nena Vital, director of the Office of Student Affairs and Development Services (OSADS), and was told to wait for the schedule of the oathtaking to formalize the student council officers assumption to office.
A separate query was posed to the desk officer of the Office of the President regarding the oathtaking.
Twelve days later, a message to Vital for an update went unanswered, raising concern among the student leaders due to the long delay of the oathtaking compared to previous years when then President Piolo Laynes took his oath on July 15, 2022 and former President Francine Mae Tayo on July 10, 2023.
On July 24, Cortado wrote Pres. Azanza to formally request the conduct of the oathtaking but the letter was never acted upon.
The following day, conversations with the desk officer and Atty. Manlangit-Santelices led to the latter’s announcement that the oathtaking would be on Aug. 2, but did not give details in subsequent queries.
Despite a promise from Vice President for Academic Affairs Gemma Acedo to talk with Pres. Azanza regarding the matter, the requested oath-taking never materialized.
Instead on Aug. 8, the university announced that the schedule of the oathtaking of the College Student Councils would be held during each college’s orientation but there was no mention of the USC officers.
That same day, Cortado received the letter from the university regarding the deferment of his oath-taking due to an allegation that he is not qualified to become USC president.
“Ang lumalabas ay mukhang ako lang ang hindi makakapanumpa. Bakit parang targeted ako?” he said in the now viral post.
Considering that he complied with the guidelines of the CatSU COMELEC, the USC Constitution and the Student Handbook, the COMELEC should not have allowed him to run as a candidate or proclaimed him as winner, he pointed out.
The student leader also insisted that the BOR has no jurisdiction on the complaint filed against him, as only the COMELEC has the right to act on it.
“Paano ito naging paksa ng Board Meeting at bakit hinayaan ng CatSU Board of Regents ang ganitong klase ng kalakaran?” he asked.
The BOR should run after the CatSU COMELEC regarding the matter and not suddenly decide to hinder his assumption to office and finally begin serving the university’s 11,000 students, Cortado argued.
He called on Pres. Azanza to immediately act on the worsening situation of students leaders as it affects the largest stakeholder of the university – the students.
He likewise sought the help of the Faculty and Employees and the COMELEC to stand on the results of the student council elections.
In his appeal to the university regents to reconsider their decision, Cortado prayed that the body would evaluate the issue fairly and freely, without any manipulation and external control, as he said he still believes in the integrity of university leaders to recognize the rights of the students and his wish to serve hie fellow students who gave him the mandate.
“Sa mga kapwa ko CatSUans, laban po nating lahat ito. Hindi tayo titigil at magpapasupil. Tuloy ang laban!,” he defiantly stated in the post.
Cortado is the third university personality to be targeted by the Azanza administration after his erstwhile opponent in the USC presidential race, Cristina Millare, is reportedly facing a complaint for alleged cheating.
Former OSAD director Francis John Templonuevo was also preventively suspected last week in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by a university staffer. He denies all charges and said he has evidence to back it up.
