Nov. 23, 2014, 11:49 a.m. – THE FACULTY of Arts and
Letters Student Council (ABSC) yesterday said money was stolen from its office
last Oct. 23, confirming an earlier statement released by the Board of Majors
(BOM).
The ABSC, in its own statement, said it lost about P50,000
in cash, which was supposed to finance activities like the Athena Cup, NGO
fair, and the general staff assembly.
In a meeting last Nov. 11, ABSC officers and the BOM
discussed statements made by students who were said to be in the council office
when the alleged theft happened, namely: ABSC President Marie Jann Lazo,
Treasurer Julienne Avila, ABSC Chief of Staff Emmanuel Arre, and board
committee members Patricia Umali, Jancis Valera, and Richard Umali.
Lazo declined to comment and instead referred the Varsitarian to the ABSC statement.
“[W]e, as representatives of the student body, are
willing to take full responsibility, which is entailed (sic) by the decision of
the SWDB, Board of Majors, and as mandated (sic) by the constitution,” the
ABSC statement read.
English Language Studies Society President Kereen Ria
Genteroy said the council and the board agreed to release an official statement
regarding the loss of funds during their meeting, but the ABSC had failed to do
so until yesterday.
“Napag-agreehan na magre-release ang ABSC ng statement
regarding the issue and that was Nov. 11. Hindi nag-release ng statement ang ABSC,
so the BOM decided to release a statement,” Genteroy said in a text message.
According to BOM’s statement released Nov. 21, the ABSC
officers were liable for several violations of the Artlets Constitution. They
may also be impeached for gross negligence of duties, abusive use of power,
unbecoming conduct or behavior, and malversation of funds and properties of the
organization, the BOM said.
The BOM is composed of society presidents corresponding to
each Artlets major.
The Students’ Welfare and Development Board will investigate
the issue during the term break. Arianne F. Merez
