The Commission on Higher Education allegedly announced on February 13 that radical student activists might not be included as beneficiaries to free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs), as per an article published by okd2.com.
The article even found its way to social media after it was shared by a Facebook user to Duterte Facebook fan page “Rody Duterte for President Movement International.”
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Okd2 claimed that Atty. Clara Delgado, who is said to be CHED’s legal team spokesperson, said that the agency decided about the subject after receiving complaints from the trustees of 11 SUCs since SY 2016-2017 started. The complaints were about radical student activists allegedly abusing their powers as student government leaders, particularly channeling their criticisms against their schools and the government through their school papers, organizing rallies, and issuing subversive statements.
CHED is said to be planning to submit the proposal to exclude the activists from enjoying free tuition privileges to Congress, where three proposals from congressmen was already submitted under the Duterte administration.
Okd2.com dropped another name, Negros Rep. Aberto Ledesma, as among those congressmen who submitted a bill to exclude Kabataan party list members from being accepted to SUCs. The bill was said to have been supported by 13 congressmen and is waitlisted for deliberation.
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The website even included a line blaming radical students for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to declare martial law.
However, all these claims from okd2.com are untrue. Even the names that the site mentioned in its article were all made up. There is no Negros Rep. Aberto Ledesma serving in the 17th Congress. We also could not any lawyer Clara Delgado connected to CHED, but knowing okd2.com’s ability to make up names and make it seem as though they are real people who made actual statements, we doubt if Delgado is actually speaking up for CHED.
Moreover, something as significant as this announcement from CHED would have gotten coverage, but it hasn’t.
While free tuition is not available to all college students. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered that such privilege will only be given to poor but academically qualified students.
In his message to the congress, Duterte said that he lauded Congress’ initiative to give students free tuition for the school year 2017 to 2018. However, he added that “it is important to underscore that we must give priority to financially disadvantaged but academically able students.”
What we know about CHED’s stand though is that they are worried about the sustainability of giving free tuition to college students. CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan said on January 19 that they might need to prioritize the “poorest” students. There was no mention about excluding student activists.
Sources: ( congress.gov.ph , philstar.com , manilatimes.net)
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