September 15, 2015,
7:21p.m. – TWO FORMER officers of the Faculty of Arts and
Letters Student Council (ABSC) will not get certificates of good moral
character due to “gross negligence” as a result of the loss of P50,000 in
council funds last year, the Varsitarian has learned.
Former ABSC president
Maria Jann Klaire Lazo told the Varsitarian the college’s verdict was relayed
by the Student Welfare and Development Board (SWDB) through a resolution that
was mailed directly to her and former treasurer Julienne Avila. Avila has yet to
respond to requests for comment.
The resolution also
stated that Avila, a political science senior, would have to render 50 hours of
community service, Lazo said. Lazo however was not required to render community
service, having graduated from the journalism program last May.
The former student
council president declined to show the SWDB resolution to the Varsitarian,
saying she was forbidden to do so, but agreed to discuss its contents in an
interview.
Lazo described the
resolution as “fair” but said she was considering filing a motion for
reconsideration before the SWDB or an appeal before the Office of Student
Affairs. The motion for reconsideration or appeal must be filed within 10
working days from the date the resolution was received.
“The resolution helps para
matahimik na rin ang AB community and to help the present ABSC,” Lazo
said.
Lazo admitted to
negligence on her part, saying she was lenient with the way funds were handled.
The SWDB conducted an
extensive investigation prior to issuing the resolution.
Before the probe,
officers of the previous student council shelled out money to pay for the
P50,000 allegedly lost right inside the ABSC office on October 23, 2014. The
cash was inside Avila’s bag. A. M. Peralta
