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University of Cabuyao draws flak for barring critics from graduation

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Raffy Cabristante, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Students of the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao in Laguna join a fire drill on March 24, 2023. Courtesy: University of Cabuyao Facebook page" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/06/22/20230622-laguna.jpg"/><figcaption>Students of the Pamantasan ng Cabuyao in Laguna join a fire drill on March 24, 2023. Courtesy: University of Cabuyao Facebook page</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — Two students of a locally funded public university in Cabuyao, Laguna were barred from graduating for their involvement in a Facebook page critical of the school&#x27;s administration, a sanction that was later overturned.Pamantasan ng Cabuyao (PNC) graduating students Jomar Aquino and Joshwell Decena took to social media to air their sentiments through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joms.aquino25/posts/pfbid06S8munK6yJX3RjXjAfb3P7ZR8NmkokHoYVjYBNq5m8VEzqqr7Yt5ViJh5qzh64X8l">now-viral posts</a>. Aquino said he had been prohibited from attending his graduation rites on June 26 because he was a manager of &quot;PNC Secret Files,&quot; a freedom wall-type Facebook page that published content critical of the PNC leadership.&quot;Lahat ng saloobin ng estudyante at staff ng PNC ay nilabas nila through that [page] dahil wala po silang lakas ng loob at kakayahan na tumindig. Dahil sa mga rants ng estudyante inalam nila ang mga admin at di pina-graduate,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.(PNC students and staff aired their grievances through that page because they were too scared to take a stand. Because of the students&#x27; rants, the leadership tracked down the page&#x27;s admins and barred them from graduating.)He also slammed the university for allegedly curtailing their freedom of speech.&quot;Walang puwang ang malayang [pamamahayag] sa isang unibersidad na kagaya ng PNC,&quot; he said.(Free speech has no space in a university like PNC.)In another <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Joshwellmiks11/posts/pfbid02Jf8EB3WigKNJMMFx5apc6tTxuxZGJjuFGkJVbvjLne1wFr2cs87nzTcZNx7amzkZl">post</a>, Decena wrote that he was sanctioned with &quot;permanent dismissal&quot; from the PNC due to his involvement with &quot;PNC Secret Files.&quot; &quot;Inutusan din nila ako mag public video apology sa Facebook account ko, ngunit hindi pa sila natuwa sa mga naging kumento sa video ko, kase nag-backfire daw sa kanila,&quot; he wrote.(I was told to make a public apology video on my Facebook account. But they still weren&#x27;t satisfied because the comments in the video backfired on them.)&quot;The sanction of a three-month suspension, coupled with the inability to attend and march on my graduation, weighs heavily on my conscience. Napakababaw. Nakapatay ba ako ng tao?&quot; he wrote in his own post.(It&#x27;s so shallow. Did I even kill someone?)&quot;At the end of the day, estudyante pa rin po kami ng pamantasan, at may matibay na karapatang magtamasa ng ganitong uri ng karangalan,&quot; he said.(At the end of the day, we are still students of this university, and we have a right to enjoy the honor of graduating.)<div>PNC RESPONSE</div>Amid criticisms, PNC&#x27;s Board of Regents on Thursday evening overturned its sanctions on Aquino and Decena after it &quot;thoroughly assessed and reviewed the situation.&quot;In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pncofficial/posts/pfbid02Y9qNAoLa9CuNGgoFc9mXo2k5DNJCX5a5f9hHfT1Lha8VyMw5dBMrbVhzGLUMtNAil">resolution</a>, the board—headed by its chairman Cabuyao Mayor Dennis Hain—allowed Aquino to join his graduation ceremony, while it commuted Decena&#x27;s permanent dismissal to a suspension that ended Thursday.The university also allowed Decena to take special examinations and complete his academic requirements.&quot;Should [Decena] successfully fulfill all his academic requirements before the graduation date, June 26, 2023, he shall be allowed to participate in the Commencement Exercises without any further penalties,&quot; the Board of Regents&#x27; decision read.The board added that it reviewed Aquino and Decena&#x27;s case with the aim of &quot;ensuring equal opportunities for all graduating students while upholding integrity and the institution&#x27;s standards.&quot;

Two PNC students said they were barred from their graduation due to their involvement with a Facebook page critical of the school administration.

University of Cabuyao draws flak for barring critics from graduation

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University of Cabuyao draws flak for barring critics from graduation

Raffy Cabristante,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 22, 2023 10:40 PM PHT

|

Updated Jun 26, 2023 12:21 PM PHT

Read More:

PNC

Pamantasan ng Cabuyao

Laguna

graduation

university

freedom of speech

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