University seeks court intervention vs CHED

CEBU, Philippines -  The Southwestern University Inc. has sought the court’s intervention after the Commission on Higher Education-7 withheld the issuance of certifications and other relevant indorsements needed for their students to complete their internship as a requirement for their graduation.

Through its legal counsels, the SWU, represented by its chairman Maris Johanna Hadaway, asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary mandatory injunction to compel CHED-7 and its regional director Dr. Freddie Bernal to issue the needed documents.

“The respondent CHEDRO-7 should be compelled to issue the necessary certification and indorsement for the College of Medicine students of SWU to be able to rotate for their clinical internship and its foreign medical students to be able to extend or covert their visa,” the complaint reads.

The SWU said that there was no reason for CHED-7 not to issue the certifications and other relevant documents and extend or convert the visa of the foreign medical students.

The school claims that the denial of the certifications is tantamount to depriving its students the constitutional right to education.

The petitioner added that government recognition was granted to SWU for it to operate a medical program. The recognition has not been revoked and is still valid and existing.

If CHED-7 fails to issue the same, SWU said the Bureau of Immigration will be imposing penalties on the foreign students of P20,000 and to the university of P50,000 per student.

CHED-7 is set to answer the civil case for mandamus and/or mandatory injunction with prayer for a writ of mandatory injunction, TRO and damages filed against them.  (FREEMAN)