UP Manila chancellor: We all wanted to help

MANILA, Philippines - The University of the Philippines on Monday explained that it was merely following the school's rules in denying a loan to behavioral science student Kristel Tejada who took her own life a day after quitting school.

"We all wanted to help," said UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agulto in a press conference held in UP Diliman.

He said the Tejada's father was late in appealing for a student loan for the second semester, and the approval of such would be violating university rules.

“Since it is a violation of Article 332 of the University Code, the appeal could no longer be accommodated as it will set a precedent,” Agulto said.

Tejada's father appealed on January 23 for another loan to cover for his daughter's second semester tuition. By then, it was already mid-semester and the appeal was already late, Agulto said.

Before that, her father settled a loan amounting to P6,377 on Dec. 19, 2012, which covered her tuition for the first semester.

Tejada initially appealed on Sept. 27, 2012 for a reassessment of her bracket under UP's Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program, but it was denied since she was unable to submit the necessary documents, Agulto said.

The reassignment of Tejada from Bracket B to Bracket E would have spared her from paying a P300 per unit tuition in UP Manila.

Agulto said Tejada's move to file for a leave of absence indicated that she wanted her student records to be in order.

"It signified her intention of enrolling again for next semester," he said.

Tejada took her own life on Friday in what was framed as a case resulting from the university's allegedly repressive policies on education.

Meanwhile, Agulto said it was "a very isolated, unfortunate case."

Before Agulto ended his statement, the university chancellor nearly broke into tears as he defended the university's management from allegations of being "cold-hearted."

“Our compassion has been questioned. We’ve been portrayed as cold-hearted..." he said. "We are not enemies…I would like to consider myself as a surrogate parent [to the students].”