UP stude regent in fund mess missing

Where is former UP Student Regent Hannah Eunice Serana?

The 22-year-old senior political science student of the State University’s Cebu College has made herself scarce after she was accused of embezzling P15-million in public funds intended for the renovation of a student-run building in UP’s Diliman, Quezon City campus.

Even her own partymates at STAND-UP, an alliance of UP student organizations which espouse national democracy, do not know where to find her.

"We called her family in Cebu City but they told us she is in Manila," said Women’s Studies graduate student K Bugayong, 24, who succeeded Serana at the Office of the Student Regent, which is based in Diliman.

University officials have summoned Serana to a meeting with leaders of the League of College Councils and the University Student Council in UP Diliman Tuesday next week to explain the financial mess, according to Martin Gregorio, university vice president for administration and secretary to the 12-member UP Board of Regents.

He and Marvic M.V.F Leonen, university general counsel have been tasked by UP President Francisco Nemenzo to investigate the embarrassing financial scandal that has once again put the State University on the spot.

Serana met the then president early last year to present a proposal to turn the annex of the student-run Vinzon’s Hall into the "President Joseph Ejercito Estrada Student Hall." Once renovated, the annex was to house the offices of the Student Regent, the Faculty Regent, the Student Museum, a mini-theater, a conference hall, a study lounge and a cafe. The whole project was to cost P38 million, with the Office of the President providing the P15-million from Estrada’s Social Fund.

After the former President approved the project, the PMS released the money on Oct. 24 to a private foundation that Serana headed. She allegedly withdrew the money from the Land Bank of the Philippines Malacañang branch the next day.

UP officials said they were unaware that the money had been released to Serana until early this week, when the PMS checked on the progress of the project. "We weren’t consulted about the project in the first place," said Gregorio.

The foundation, originally called the Office of the Student Regent Foundation was later renamed the Student Welfare and Programs Foundation, with members of her family serving as its trustees. Serena served a one-year term as representative to the BOR of students in the State University’s constituent campuses.

It was learned that half-way through her term, she transferred her office from UP Diliman to UP Cebu. Incumbent student regents are normally asked to go on a one-year leave of absence from their studies so they could attend to their duties.

Gregorio had admitted knowing about the foundation, which was supposed to be non-stock, and non-profit. "When we got wind of it, I and Nemenzo told her it was not proper to put up a foundation for that purpose," he said. "In the first place, she used the university’s name without the university’s express consent."

Bugayong, the incoming Student Regent, told The STAR she was able to contact Serana last Wednesday through her cellphone. "She was very evasive," she said. "She could only say that the project would be completed as promised."