PUP student activists fight against newly appointed OIC

Student leaders of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Sta. Mesa, Manila showed dismay as they wage an all-out protest against the decision of Board of Regents (BOR) appointing Edicio Dela Torre as the new Officer-in-charge of the university, provisionally replacing Dante Guevarra, PUP’s former president.

Various student activist organizations led by Student Regent Rommel Teofilo Aguilar rallied inside the university on Wednesday to denounce the result of the board meeting last July 4 appointing Dela Torre as OIC.

According to report, Aguilar said Dela Torre’s appointment to take charge on the university meant overseeing other qualified and credible members of the school who know the culture and the system within the state university. He further explained that BOR also failed to have a student representative on the search committee for the presidency of PUP. This, as they pointed out in their written statement given during the demonstration is a clear manipulation and alliance between BOR and the current administration.

Aguilar also mentioned that BOR Chairperson Patricia Licuanan only meant reform in the system on Dela Torre’s appointment. She however failed to elaborate, added Aguilar.

Other members of the PUP community also questioned on what they said were the lack of transparency of BOR in assigning the new administrator. According to the same report, PUP faculty said there was no clear set of criteria that would serve as the basis of the appointment.

Amalia Rosales, dean of the PUP Graduate School, said in an interview with the Inquirer, “The right people were not given the chance to ‘paint the correct picture’ during the time of Dr. Guevarra,”.

Rosales admires Guevarra on how he managed to make developments for the academe possible despite the lack of funds. The fact that Dr. Guevarra was not given the chance to explain his side on rating way below outstanding despite his good performance during the deliberation was something debatable, added Rosales.

However, On July 5, Judge Amor Reyes of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 21 issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) holding Dela Torre’s taking over of PUP. Dr. Guevarra, then retain on his post as president.

PUP pylon image via photobucket.com