UP files complaint vs photo grabber

MANILA, Philippines - The Executive Committee of the University of the Philippines Diliman has approved the filing of a case before the Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) against public administration student Mark Joseph Solis, who lifted a photo on the Internet and passed it as his own in a contest.

In a text message yesterday, UP Diliman Chancellor Caesar Saloma said the basis for filing the case last Oct. 21 was the 1999 Rules and Regulations on Student Conduct and Discipline.

“The SDT works independently while it investigates and hears a case,” Saloma said, adding that its recommendation regarding the issue will have to be approved by the Executive Committee composed of the chancellor, vice chancellors, deans and directors of different colleges and units of UP Diliman.

The case was filed after Saloma received the result of the fact-finding investigation of the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) on the case of Solis.

The UP-NCPAG fact-finding committee found out that Solis submitted plagiarized photos in at least seven competitions.

He passed stolen photos in the Smiles for the World Competition (2013), the Mulat Maninipat Photojournalism contest of the Union of Journalists of the Philippines-UP (2012), VinylPlus Sustainable Thinking Platform photo contest (2010-2011) and the Water and Life photo contest of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (2013).

He also submitted plagiarized photos and won in the competitions organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Papworth Trust in 2011 and in a competition sponsored by the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration in 2012.

“He submitted pictures that were not his despite the rules of the contests that the person should be submitting original work,” said UP-NCPAG Dean Fe Mendoza.

Mendoza forwarded the report to Saloma, saying that he is in a better position to resolve the issue.

Earlier, Saloma said the decision-making would undergo due process to allow Solis to present his side.

“For proven dishonesty cases, penalties could range from one-year suspension, dishonorable dismissal from the University, to withdrawal of degree by the University,” he said in an earlier text message.

He said Solis could appeal penalty decisions with the UP president or board of regents. The recommendation will be in accordance with the stated purpose of UP as the national university.

Basis for punishment

Section 1 of UP Diliman’s student code of conduct said “students shall at all times observe the laws of the land and the rules and regulations of the University.”

The report of the fact-finding committee said this provision could be a basis for disciplinary measure against Solis.

The report also cited Section 2(m), which states that “any other form of misconduct” is prohibited in the University. Penalty ranges from expression of apology to expulsion, depending on the gravity of the act.

The fact-finding committee left the decision on penalty to appropriate bodies.

It also suggested that “acts subject to disciplinary action be defined more clearly and indicate whether the University has jurisdiction over all acts of students, including those committed not in connection with the pursuit of a degree or done outside University premises for a better understanding even by those without any legal expertise.”

The current rule prohibits intellectual dishonesty, which is defined as “any form of cheating in examinations or any act of dishonesty in relation to his studies.”

Only the Mulat Maninipat competition was limited to UP students, but Solis did not win in this competition.

Code of student conduct

UP Diliman is in the process of revising its rules.

The draft 2012 code of student conduct noted that “engaging in any other form of misconduct, whether within or outside University premises, which affects the good order and welfare and/or good name of the University” is prohibited.

The penalty ranges from admonition to expulsion, with possible corrective measure of disqualification from graduation with honors.

The 2012 code also penalizes plagiarism – which is defined as “the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results or words without giving appropriate credit” – with one semester suspension to expulsion on the first offense and expulsion on the second offense.

Intellectual dishonesty in the 2012 code was also not limited in relation to the students’ studies. It was defined as “any fraudulent act performed by a student to achieve academic advantage or gain for oneself or others.”

Solis’ case stemmed from the Smiles for the World competition organized by the embassy of Chile, in which he won $1,000 and round-trip airfare and accommodations to Chile and Brazil.

Following the awarding at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Sept. 18, Brazil-based social entrepreneur Gregory John Smith claimed that he shot the photo submitted by Solis in the competition.

Smith said the photo of the smiling boy was taken in Brazil in 2006, not in Zamboanga as claimed by Solis.

In his apology, Solis said he “was driven by (his) youth, lack of experience, and the inability to see the repercussions of (his) actions.”

The Chilean embassy revoked the award and announced a new set of winners.