CEBU, Philippines - Three Talisay City councilors said they can invite Talisay City College (TCC) administrators to the city council to give them the opportunity to explain whether the six students who had been barred from enrolling in the school have the chance to enroll again.
“Pwede nato sila (TCC administrators) ipatawag, unya i-discuss ang issue sa council together with the parents. And the students should be given the chance to explain their side,” said Councilor Val Ylanan, in a press conference.
Ylanan said he believes the six students should be allowed to enroll in the school despite their alleged offense, which he describes as “very minor.”
Councilors Danny Caballero and Romeo Villarante also echoed Ylanan’s point, saying the council is the proper venue to settle the matter, especially now that the parents of the six children are said to have lost hope their children would ever be able to enroll in the school again.
“Although we want nga anha lang nila ni Sir (Tomas) Ramos ma-resolve ang issue, pero og mohangyo ang parents nga magpatabang sa council, then willing kaayo mi,” Villarante said.
The said the committee on education can handle the case, if ever it is brought to the city’s legislative body.
Villarante said if in case the students had violated the school’s policy, then they deserve due process rather than outright expulsion.
“It is the welfare of the students that should be their paramount consideration. They cannot condemn the life of a person who had committed a very light offense,” Villarante said.
“The administration should follow what is stated in their handbook,” he said.
The college has barred six of its incoming third-year students from enrolling in the coming school year allegedly for vandalism.
The school’s policy, however, stated that “vandalism of serious nature” is punishable by a suspension of not more than 30 days for the first offense, and expulsion for the second offense.
The six students, for their part, maintained that they only did it last December once, and on a loose poster which they thought was trash. (FREEMAN)