UNIVERSITY Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. said on Monday he did not know the UST Alumni Association had decided to give an award to controversial Palace Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson for her service in government.
Dagohoy told the Varsitarian he was only invited to lead the Eucharistic celebration during the grand alumni homecoming last Sunday.
“We were not informed by [the UST Alumni Association]. The only invite that I received was to officiate the Mass in the [morning], which I fulfilled,” he said.
Henry Tenedero, president of the UST Alumni Association said Dagohoy was aware of the awards and was given a list of recipients of the government service award.
“As a matter of protocol, [the UST Alumni Association] reports to the Office of Alumni Relations and Alumni Relations talks to the fathers…He (Dagohoy) is aware. As to how he really felt about it, we didn’t know because he is [independent] of the [UST Alumni Association],” Tenedero told the Varsitarian in an interview earlier today.
Dagohoy was to present the award alongside Tenedero, John Simon, alumni association vice president and Cherry Tanodra, director of the Office of Alumni Relations. However, the Rector left after the Mass as he needed to attend other events.
“We gave them (Office of the Rector) [the list of awardees]… Kaya nga and’un yung pangalan niya sa Misa. We invited him to be also part during the awarding kaya lang meron siyang other [activities] according to the Office of Alumni Relations. We respect that,” Tenedero said.
The UST Alumni Association drew flak Sunday after bestowing a government service award to Uson, a die-hard supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte accused of being a purveyor of “fake news.” Uson graduated from UST in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in medical technology.
