THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters Student Council (ABSC) last Nov. 22 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,"the ABSC statement read.
English Language Studies Society President 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 earlier.
“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 an online 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.
