‘Interrupted’ salutatorian gets CA relief

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) yesterday granted relief to a high school salutatorian who was interrupted while delivering her graduation speech last March.

The CA’s Second Division issued a writ of preliminary mandatory injunction ordering Santo Niño Parochial School (SNPS) in Quezon City to release Krisel Mallari’s certificate of good moral character to allow her to enroll at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

The SNPS refused to release Mallari’s certificate after she criticized the school.

The appellate court held that Mallari should not be punished for exercising her freedom of speech.

The school said it would appeal the CA ruling, which was penned by Associate Justice Socorro Inting.

Maritoni Resurrecion, counsel for SNPS, said they did not intend to defy the CA ruling but would exhaust all available legal means to stand by the school’s position.

UST set the deadline for submission of requirements for first year college students on July 15.

Mallari asked for more time to submit her certificate of good moral character to UST. – Edu Punay, Janvic Mateo