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Of the High and Mighty
HILE most of us were enjoying the sights or merely taking a break from it all during the last Ateneo Fiesta, nine Ateneans were subjected to an experience that students of a respectable university should not have undergone – public humiliation. These students, most of whom are freshmen – hence minors, had their ID pictures posted beneath a “Wanted!” sign displayed at the entrance gates of the Jacinto campus and the Office of Student Affairs bulletin board, by the order of the OSA Director, Mr. Rikki Enriquez. These students were also subjected to harsh language and verbal abuse by the OSA Director. In a related event, another student was forced out of the campus by security guards under orders from the OSA, thus disrupting the volleyball game he joined in. In a university governed by rules, these questions arise: Was that kind of punishment necessary? Did the OSA Director act responsibly? After gathering facts and student testimonies, the Atenews has determined that indeed the students concerned violated the school policy regarding the lending of the school ID. The student handbook lists several punishments to address this type of offense. Displaying wanted posters and consequently subjecting the students to public humiliation, however, is not one of them. And considering that the OSA has immense resources at their disposal to locate and summon these students, the “Wanted!” posters should not have been necessary. All of the victims said that they were extremely embarrassed by the ordeal. One freshman has not gone back to class since she cannot bear the shame of facing her classmates after the wanted posted incident. A mother of one of the victims, who comes from a prominent clan in their hometown, was furious when she came to campus to confront several faculty and even Mr. Enriquez himself about what was done to her freshman daughter. Several faculty, upon seeing the posters, warned the guards stationed at the gate that this was an invitation for legal action against the university, on grounds that this can be considered a case of child abuse. But since the order for display came from the OSA Director, the guards had no choice but to follow. There is a reason why provisions such as Republic Act 7610, The Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, are present in our student handbook. This is to shield students, in this case those below the legal age, from potential abuse from figures who might use their position to do such. Isn’t the OSA Director covered by this law? Does his order to display these students’ faces and names in areas of maximum visibility help his disciplining the erring students? If his intention was to drive a point by shaming them, doesn’t this go directly against R.A. 7610, which protects children from “psychological abuse… and emotional maltreatment” or “any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child as a human being”? The mere displaying of their names and faces under a “Wanted!” sign brands them as criminals, something they clearly do not deserve, something that clearly degrades them. Given these facts, in addition to the way some were verbally harassed by an irate Mr. Enriquez and the public stoppage of the volleyball game for a student to be escorted out by security guards in front of other students and faculty, doesn’t the OSA Director clearly have a direct hand in inflicting psychological trauma to these students? So much for the Jesuit principles of Magis and Cura personalis. It is a wonder why the university tolerates the presence of an administrator like Mr. Enriquez who is insensitive to the consequences of his actions. If he says that he did not intend to shame these students, then what is the need for their names and faces to be displayed in public? Even if there is a need to be strict and stern, shouldn’t someone in Mr. Enriquez’s position be more tactful, polished and intelligent when it comes to sanctioning violators, especially when these are first-time offenders and most are minors? This is not the first incident wherein the behavior of Mr. Enriquez has been called into question. Last summer, the Faculty Club sent a petition to the Office of the President to replace him, citing several complaints regarding his overbearing and disrespectful behavior towards faculty members. Mr. Enriquez has consistently bullied his way into getting what he likes. If he behaves that way with faculty members, imagine how he treats students! This pattern has been consistent in the nine years he has been in office. The SAMAHAN Central Board, the General Assembly of Class Presidents, and the Campus Clubs Organization, the three student governing bodies, have done little collective action to address this serious matter. A letter to Fr. Samson has been written, yes, but the SAMAHAN remains split in pursuing the issue further. No formal inquiry has been launched, and the GACP and CCO have not done any separate initiatives to further the students’ cause. No effort was even made to locate these students and hear their side. It took the Faculty Club, not the SAMAHAN, to first bring this issue to the attention of the University President’s Office. The administration reply, thru Atty. Manuel Quibod, said that “there is no offense committed by the OSA Director in connection with the posting” since the students made “admissions and apologies.” Granting that he may be correct, legally speaking, this is not the point. The heart of the issue is unnecessary psychological distress was inflicted due to Mr. Enriquez’s rashness and these students feel it up to now. How else can you explain the fact that some of them no longer have shown up in campus for classes? And since students were adversely affected, it is the SAMAHAN’s responsibility to build a case for them. Badly sadly, the SAMAHAN is a house divided when it comes to confronting administration officials, especially Mr. Enriquez. Over the years, the Office of Student Affairs has pretty much controlled these student bodies. Several officers, notably those affiliated with the ruling party PIGLAS, have been known to be close to Mr. Enriquez. One reason for his getting re-appointed is that there was no student initiative to get him out. This is despite the opposition of the faculty, who by the way highly discourage any direct dealings with Mr. Enriquez – a sort of non-cooperation principle. But how can such a move prosper when most student officials are afraid of reprisals from Mr. Enriquez? It is understandable that students would not want to go into conflict with administration officials, as this might, in the case of most student government officials, affect their chances for honors come graduation. But when students are oppressed, isn’t it incumbent upon these student leaders to act and defend their constituents? Do they know their responsibilities? After they get elected, are they merely happy to have the title of office affixed to their names? As painful as it is to admit, if you want to see leadership that is style over substance, a perfect example would be the Ateneo de Davao student government. There are some officers who have taken a stand and would want to take action against Mr. Enriquez. The trouble is the ruling party just would not have the SAMAHAN dragged into it. A great shame. It is this type of culture that has allowed people like Mr. Enriquez to get away with horrible acts against the students in the past. He has used his position to justify abuse, and has forced the students to take it with bowed heads. Now that nine more Ateneans, students who have many more years to spend in this university, have had their rights violated by his hand, can we afford to still stay silent? Can we afford to let this pass and let the issue be laid to rest? Since any student can be the next victim of Mr. Enriquez’s next indiscretion, can we afford not to act?
EDITORIAL
Inihahandog ng Atenews
PAGE 2
TOMO 52
Vol. 2
ATENEWS SPECIAL ISSUE AUGUST 2007
A Series of Unfortunate Events Nisa Opalla, Santigo Pascual, with reports by Marjorie Lamboso and Samuel John Salisipan
August 15 (Wednesday)
• A first year student was caught by the chief guard in the Jacinto gate lending her ID to another first year student. The guard Chief instructed another guard to bring the two students to the Office of Student Affairs. • Inside the office, Director Riki Enriquez asked them questions pertaining to the incident. During the meeting, the OSA Director shouted at the students that they are both “liars” and prohibiting them from entering the university. Mr. Enriquez commanded the guard to escort the two students out of the campus. The students were not formally informed that their ‘banning from campus’ was a sanction for their offense, nor were they informed about the duration of their ban. • Several more students were apparently apprehended by the ADDU guards for the same violation during this day.
August 16 (Thursday)
• The Office of Student Affairs displayed the Wanted posters on the bulletin boards of Roxas, Claveria, and Jacinto gates. The same poster was also displayed on the OSA Bulletin Board. • The poster said: “WANTED! The following students have violated the Student Handbook Provision 20.16: Tampering with or lending of ID cards, excuse slips or other official documents to other students or outsiders”. The poster displayed six “wanted” students. Two other posters posted only in the OSA Bulletin board displayed three more students. • James Earl Chew, the SecretaryGeneral of the SAMAHAN Central Board called the University President Fr. Samson and informed him about what happened. • Ms. Marjorie Banal, a member of the faculty, and noticed the “Wanted” poster at the Roxas Gate. She immediately calls the attention of Mr. Abejaron, Faculty Club President • Mr. Abejaron proceeded to the Roxas Gate and examined the poster. After asking the guard about the poster, he found out that the guards posted the paper upon instruction from the director of OSA. It was supposedly a way of calling the student’s attention and identifying the students upon entry to the school. He asked the guard to remove the poster, since Mr. Abejaron was aware that the “normal” method of calling students was through the use of a call slip. The guard removed the poster and handed it to Mr. Abejaron, who intended to write to the President about this breach of protocol.
August 17 (Friday)
• The posters were still on the OSA bulletin board.
August 18 (Saturday) • A Nursing student on the wanted poster was able to enter the campus and participate in the championship game of the volleyball men’s division. The game was interrupted when another student approached the volleyball player on the “wanted” list. The volleyball player was informed that he had to leave the game and be escorted by two guards waiting on the sidelines. The student left the court, and in full view of the spectators, was escorted to the Office of Student Affairs. • He was informed by the OSA staff that he was not allowed to enter the campus. The student requested that he be able to talk to Mr. Enriquez regarding his offense, hoping to finish the volleyball game. He was informed that the OSA Director was busy, and that he should leave the campus lest the guards who let him enter the campus face reprimand for letting him inside. • The student was once again escorted out of the campus. He later recounted in an Atenews interview that he felt extremely embarrassed and ashamed since a crowd had gathered to watch the games and he drew their attention because of his escort. • The two first year students apprehended during Aug. 15 entering the gate were informed by a lady guard on duty that they could only come back on the 21st of August. The guard said that the order came from the OSA director himself.
August 21 (Tuesday) • Around 10:30 a.m., the mother of one of the students on the”WANTED” poster met with Mr. Enriquez. She complained to the director regarding the sanctions. • Around 2:30p.m., the Jacinto guard allowed the two freshman students previously reprimanded last August 15 to enter the campus. He immediately brought the two students to the Office of Mr. Enriquez. Mr. Enriquez informed them that they would serve 50 hours of community service as a sanction, in addition to their Fiesta ban and “WANTED” poster. They are advised not to do it again. • The WANTED posters displayed in the gates have been removed except for the one posted on the OSA Bulletin Board.
August 22 (Wednesday)
• Mr. Arnold Abejaron, president of the Faculty Club, filed a letter of complaint to the Office of the President regarding the action taken by the OSA Director. Abejaron described the posters as a form
of public humiliation and child abuse, and called for the admonishment of the OSA Director. • A faculty member disclosed to the Atenews that a student of his who was shown on the poster has stopped attending classes due to extreme embarrassment and shame. • The two first year girls submitted a letter of apology; one is addressed personally to Mr. Enriquez, the other addressed to the public. • Two other students on the “WANTED” poster submit letters of apology, addressed to the authorities mentioned above.
August 23 (Thursday)
• James Earl Chew, Secretary-General of the SAMAHAN Central Board, called the University President Fr. Samson and told him about the complaint. Chew also initiates a signature campaign calling for the resignation of Mr. Enriquez. • In a SAMAHAN Emergency Meeting, the officers who were present agreed to send a letter to the university president. They expressed their protest at what they deemed was grave abuse by the OSA Director.
August 24 (Friday) • The SAMAHAN Central Board (SCB) deliberated on their next plan of action regarding Mr. Enriquez’s public “WANTED” posters. They intended to release a statement condemning the action of the OSA director. • The SCB submitted a letter to the Office of the President, calling the punishment as arbitrarily imposed and against due process. The letter also called to attention the punishment was a form of child abuse and public humiliation, and called the act as “wrongful”, “sensationalized”, and maintained that the punishment was more than what was due to them. • Secretary General James Chew requested that they support his signature campaign for the resignation of the OSA Director. The SCB voted 2-5, in favor of not engaging in the campaign. • The Samahan Central Board also requested that Mr. Chew not to use the official SAMAHAN letterhead and seal for
his signature campaign. Chew was resolute that he can act in his official capacity as secretary general to push for the signature campaign, citing the need to call for this action as commensurate to the gravity of the act.
August 25 (Saturday) • Atty. Manuel P. Quibod, Assistant Dean of the College of Law and under authority of the President, wrote a response to Mr. Abejaron’s letter, also addressing the general student populace and the SAMAHAN.
August 27 (Monday) • The signature campaign garnered over 700 signatures. • The SAMAHAN Central Board posted a copy of their letter to the Office of the President at the SMAHAN. Copies were furnished to the other offices.
August 28 (Tuesday) • The letter drafted by Atty. Quibod received by the members of the ADDU community – the SAMAHAN and its officers, and the faculty club president. Atty. Quibod says in his letter, that the matter is now at rest since the students have admitted their violations and written letters of apology. The letter, however, dwells mainly on the violation committed and the apologies of the students. It does not make any mention of any testimonies obtained directly from the students, or explanation for Mr. Enriquez’s actions. It does not suggest an investigation be done. • Atty. Quibod says that “I see no legal impediment nor a violation of any Constitutional right in connection of the posting.” Attached to Atty. Quibod’s letter are filed reports from the guards to the OSA, citing the names of students who incurred the violations, as well as copies of letters of apology. The appended reports do not include the names of two students whose names and faces were posted. According to the documents forwarded by the letter, one of these students has written an apology, and the other has not.
INVERBATI
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ATENEWS Editorial Board and Staff SY 2007-2008 Editor-in-chief: Nisa Opalla Associate Editor: Santigo Paulo Pascual Managing Editor: Hyangelo Hao News Editor: JB Tomas Busque Staff Writers: Marjorie Lamboso, Hope Charmaine D. Mangabang,Carmel Jade T. Bual, Keithneer Corrales, Karlo James Bringas,Sonito Mole, Farrah Samonadi, Blossom Madulin, Sheena Suazo,Kheycee Matarlo, Samuel John Salisipan, Hannah Lesley Taotjo, Jell Vie Gualberto, Jobelle Obguia, Ma. Elaine Dy Lay-out Artists: Art Alfredo C. Compra Jr, Karla Degrano Photographers: Marvin Reyes, Mick Basa Cartoonists: Shem Bajenting, Carl Garey Marañon, Ghamar Kanda Abdul, Noli Jane Pacunla, Ruki Trumata Moderators: Dr. Macariu Tiu and Dr. Victoria Tatad-Pre Member: College Editors Guild of the Philippines The Atenews is the official student publication of the Ateneo de Davao University. Our office is located at the Covered Court Building, Ateneo de Davao University, Jacinto St., Davao City. We accept articles, letters, poems, pictutres comics and other contributions for publication.