Vizcaya studes press ouster of school head

BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya – Students of a state-run college here have mounted protest actions, backed by their teachers, parents and even local officials, to press for the ouster of the school president for alleged arrogance and corruption.

The students of the Nueva Vizcaya State Polytechnic College have been staging non-stop protest actions, even vowing to go on a hunger strike or physically eject Dr. Patricio Unday, the school president, if he would not step down by the end of this month.

Unday, however, has dismissed the allegations as pure lies. He vowed not to step down, claiming he has the support of the college’s Board of Regents which recently gave him a second four-year term.

Last Tuesday, the students, joined by a majority of the school’s teaching staff, burned their official school identification cards and padlocked several classrooms and offices.

In support, the municipal council threatened to pass a resolution declaring Unday a persona non grata for his continuing defiance and refusal to resign.

The swelling support calling for Unday’s ouster was triggered by last week’s unexpected "withdrawal of support" by the college’s Council of Deans.

"We had been your alter egos… but everything must come to an end. We regret to inform you what we think is the best move for you in order to avoid further injuries," Dr. Rogelio Lagula, the council’s chairman, said in a letter. He also cited "loss of confidence" as one of the reasons why they withdrew support for him.

Yesterday, 92 of the school’s 126 teaching personnel issued a manifesto also expressing their loss of confidence in Unday’s leadership. However, Unday’s two vice presidents and at least 20 teachers remained loyal to him.