CHED to SUCs: Shun partisan politics

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Patricia Licuanan yesterday reminded officials of state universities and colleges (SUCs) not to play partisan politics in light of the May 2016 general elections.

“What we are going to do is to send out a reminder to SUCs not to play partisan politics. I think that is a fair reminder to SUCs,” Licuanan said.

She, however, said there is nothing wrong if students would invite politicians for school events.

Licuanan made the statement in reaction to issues regarding the speech of Vice President Jejomar Binay at the Cavite State University (CavSU) on Monday.

“We are looking into it… I don’t think there is a particular (CHED) memo that is relevant here,” Licuanan said. “What we thought might be relevant would be violation of civil service rules.”

In an earlier statement, CHED said it would conduct an investigation amid reports that the students were forced to attend Binay’s speech.

“CHED is concerned, having received a number of complaints from students of CavSU on their alleged forced attendance during the Vice President’s speech,” it said.

Following the speech of Binay, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda posted on his social media account a memorandum issued by CavSU president Divina Chavez requiring all third year and fourth year students to attend the event.

“Kindly excuse from your classes those who will participate in the event. Attendance shall be checked by CSG (central student government) officers,” read the memorandum.

Chavez denied knowing that the Vice President was the guest speaker when she signed the memorandum.

Licuanan said even the student regent of the university said that Binay had yet to confirm when the memorandum was issued.

She said the case of students inviting politicians is not a violation of CHED policy.

“We wanted to see whether in fact the school president was playing partisan politics, that’s a violation of civil service rules,” she said.