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PAO chief: UST not yet decided on QC salutatorian’s enrollment

Jee Y. Geronimo

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PAO chief: UST not yet decided on QC salutatorian’s enrollment
University officials will meet on Tuesday, August 4, to discuss Krisel Mallari's late submission of her certificate of good moral character

MANILA, Philippines – Officials of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) will meet next week to decide how to go about Krisel Mallari’s late submission of her certificate of good moral character, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta told Rappler on Friday, July 31.

On Friday morning, Mallari and lawyers from PAO went to UST to submit the certificate they finally received from the Santo Niño Parochial School (SNPS) in Quezon City.

Acosta said the group waited until past 2 pm, and later learned from the dean of the College of Accountancy that university officials will meet on Tuesday, August 4, to discuss the matter.

The certificate is a requirement for enrollment into UST’s accountancy program, where Mallari already reserved a slot. The university gave Mallari only until July 15 to submit her certificate. 

The salutatorian of SNPS Class 2015 made headlines in March after she delivered a speech that hinted at her school’s lack of fairness. A video that went viral showed school officials cutting short her speech.

The school has since refused to issue Mallari a certificate of good moral character, until the Court of Appeals (CA) compelled it to do so on Wednesday, July 29. SNPS already issued the certificate but with reservations since its release was forced by the CA.

Based on UST’s calendar of events for August, the opening exercises for academic year 2015-2016 will begin on Monday, August 3. Activities on the first week of August will mostly be for college freshmen, while classes will officially begin on August 10.

But until the university decides on her case, Mallari will miss the first few days of her first academic year in UST. 

I’m putting my fingers crossed na papayagan ng UST (I’m putting my fingers crossed that she will be allowed by UST to enroll),” Acosta said. She said it would be a pity if Mallari does not end up going to her school of choice. 

SNPS will also be responsible, she said, if things don’t turn out well.

“Lying? Sila ang nag-lie kasi ‘yung Filipino, English, at Science [grades ni Mallari], mali [ang] quotient, pinababa nila,” the PAO chief said.

(Lying? They’re the ones lying because the Filipino, English, and Science grades of Mallari have the wrong quotient. They lowered it.)

Part of the reason why the school does not want to voluntarily issue the certificate is because Mallari supposedly lied about not being shown her grades.

The CA asked SNPS officials on Friday to explain within 24 hours why they should not be cited for contempt and be arrested for refusing to release Mallari’s certificate. The school, for its part, is keen on filing an appeal. – Rappler.com

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Jee Y. Geronimo

Jee is part of Rappler's Central Desk, handling most of the world, science, and environment stories on the site. She enjoys listening to podcasts and K-pop, watching Asian dramas, and running long distances. She hopes to visit Israel someday to retrace the steps of her Savior.