MANILA, Philippines – Ahead of a national protest against the increase of tuition and other school fees, a lawmaker is seeking congressional inquiry into the suicide of Cagayan State University (CSU) student Rosanna Sanfuego.

Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo filed House Resolution 1076 on Tuesday, March 10, calling for the investigation into the incident that sparked a new wave of protests against tuition hikes. 

According to police, 16-year-old Sanfuego hanged herself at home in Abulug town in Cagayan. Authorities say depression may have been the probable cause of the suicide.

Her body was found on February 25, a day before her midterm examinations, which she told her mother she wouldn’t be able to take. But school officials said Sanfuego stopped attending classes beginning February 20 even if she paid the downpayment to take her exams. 

Her family insists that according to Sanfuego, she would not be allowed to take the exams if she couldn’t pay her school fees. (READ: CSU students light candles for schoolmate Rosanna Sanfuego)

The House inquiry will look into how CHED disseminates implements and monitors the prohibition of the “No Perit, No Exam” policy in higher education institutions (HEIs). 

It will also tackle the “reasonableness” of fees charged by state universities and colleges. 

The CSU incident comes just as the university is studying the reimposition of tuition fees after observing a “no tuition fee policy” since 2009. But even without a tuition fee, the cost of school fees still range from P2,000 ($45.14)* to P4,000 (90.28). (READ: ‘Students can’t afford reimposition of CSU tuition fees’)

Romulo said HEIs are “well aware” they cannot refuse students from taking major examinations if they can’t pay their tuition fees. 

“Education should be for everyone. However, it is sad that the death of Rosanna Sanfuego clearly shows our government’s failure to provide access to tertiary education for all students,” he earlier said.

Both CHED and the university are already investigating the incident. (READ: CHED looking into suicide of CSU student)

The National Union of Students of the Philippines will stage a National Day of Walkout against tuition and other school fees increases on Friday, March 13 – almost two years since the death of University of the Philippines-Manila student Kristel Tejada.

Different student groups call Sanfuego the “Kristel Tejada of Cagayan.” (READ: Will Aquino freeze tuition hikes after death of CSU student?)

Tejada, then a freshman of the University of the Philippines, took her life in 2013. What “pulled the trigger,” her family said, was her failure to pay tuition which caused her to stop schooling. – Rappler.com

*US$1 = P44.31