Binay says stolen thesis for UP, not UST

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President and United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer Jejomar “Jojo” Binay on Tuesday clarified that he was unable to finish his master of laws degree at both University of Santo Tomas (UST) and University of the Philippines (UP) and noted that the stolen draft thesis he was referring to was a requirement for his master in public administration studies in UP and not UST.

Binay, who earlier clarified that he never claimed that he earned a master’s degree from the oldest university in Asia, explained that he also did not finish post-graduate studies in UP because he failed to complete his thesis as his portfolio containing his thesis was stolen.

“’Yung draft ng thesis ko, binasag ‘yung salamin ng aking kotse, then ninakaw ‘yung portfolio ko. E noon wala pang masyadong computer, na [pwede] kang mag-back-up, tapos nadagdag na rin `yung  nag-iinit na panahon dahil sa pagharap sa mga problema ng ating bansa,” Binay said in a radio interview.

The vice president made the clarification after the UST’s official publication, The Varsitarian, verified Binay’s UST records, citing that various news websites reported that Binay obtained a master of laws degree from UST in 1980.

The publication added that the Binay’s website and curriculum vitae posted on two other government websites Pag-IBIG Fund and the National Housing Authority indicated Binay’s Thomasian and UP background.

"He passed the bar exams in 1968, and took masteral subjects in public administration and law in UP and the University of Sto. Tomas, respectively," the vice president's corner on Binay's website read.

The Varsitarian noted that Binay took master’s subjects in law in UST but was not able to finish it.

"The official biography of Vice President Binay, as posted [on] the website of the Office of the Vice President, clearly stated that he 'took masteral subjects' at the University of Santo Tomas. Nowhere did it claim that the Vice President earned a master’s degree from UST,” the Office of the Vice President’s Media Relations head Joselito Salgado explained in a Facebook comment on Monday.

"The official curriculum vitae of the vice president also indicated that he 'academically completed' his master of laws. This means, he completed his major and minor subjects but owing to his schedule as a human rights lawyer during Martial Law, he was unable to finish his thesis or dissertation,” Salgado added.

Editors' note: The Varsitarian, quoted in this story, earlier reported that Binay did not finish his master of laws in UST due to his stolen thesis. However, the publication retracted the earlier report and mentioned Binay ‘s stolen thesis was for UP.