CSU execs doubt coed’s suicide was over unpaid fees

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Officials of the Cagayan State University (CSU) are not convinced that one of their students committed suicide because she was unable to pay school fees.

Except for fiduciary and miscellaneous fees collected during enrolment, CSU students do not pay tuition, CSU president Romeo Quilang told The STAR yesterday.

“CSU is the only state university in the country that is tuition-free,” Quilang said.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) directed the CSU to look into the circumstances surrounding the death of 16-year-old Rossana Sanfuego, a respiratory therapy freshman at the CSU campus in Caritan, Tuguegarao City. Sanfuego reportedly hanged herself at her house in Abulug town last Feb. 27.

Abulug police chief Chief Inspector Engelbert Bunagan said Sanfuego, in her last text message to her brother, said she was not able to take her midterm examination after she failed to pay her school fees.

Honorato Carag, CSU administrative officer, said Sanfuego  had been absent since Feb. 20 and paid only P200 of the P3,000 school fees.

“A payment of at least P100 will enable her to take the examination…I don’t think she would take her life for that measly sum,” Carag told The STAR.

CHEd said Sanfuego’s suicide would be on top of the agenda at the CSU board meeting today.

CHEd said initial reports showed that CSU had extended financial, spiritual and moral support to the family of the student. CSU officials said they would also conduct an investigation into Sanfuego’s death. – With Janvic Mateo