STC shuns demand for public apology

CEBU, Philippines - The Saint Theresa’s College stood firm in its position that they have not violated any law when it barred five of its graduating high school students from joining the graduation rites and that there is no reason for them to ask for public apology as demanded by one of the parents to settle the case.

Lawyer Joan Largo, one of the counsels for STC, said that the school did not violate any rule in imposing the administrative sanction against the students.

“What kind of message you are sending to the minors, to the youth and to the children if the school will ask for public apology when in fact the school did right,” Largo said.

Largo said that asking the school officials to make a public apology, as sought by one of the parents of the minors, is proof that they encouraged their children to live the kind of life full of vices.

She added that the school and its administration were only doing their part in molding the student to a decent life. Largo said that the school and the parents should have been partners in this endeavor.

Largo earlier said that the school is willing to enter into a compromise agreement with the parents of the minors.

“As Christian, the school and its administration are open to reconciliation but parents must uphold the primordial requirement of parental responsibility,” she said.

Another parent however said she is not compromising that easy even if the school makes a public apology.

 “No I didn’t say I’m willing to compromise just that easy. There should be terms and conditions to be agreed upon, not just a simple tarpaulin thing,” one of the parents texted The FREEMAN.

One of the parents earlier said that they are willing to compromise on condition that the school ask for public apology and should be displayed on a tarpaulin.

The parents of the students who were barred from the graduation rites earlier filed a civil case for injunction and damages against the STC and its officials.

The school lately filed a counter-charge against the parents for alleged violation of the Republic Act 7610 otherwise known as the Child Abuse Law. The school claimed that the parents failed to exercise parental guidance to their children.— (FREEMAN)