La Salle mulls leave of absence

La Salle, forced to effect changes in its admission policies in the aftermath of the UAAP eligibility scam, is seriously considering taking a leave of absence from the UAAP for the rest of this season and in 2006.

Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, DLSU executive vice president, hinted this in her letter to the academic community the other day wherein she also mentioned the other steps the school officials have taken in their attempt to protect the name of the institution and keep the ideals of the league itself.

"We are seriously considering taking a leave of absence from the UAAP the rest of this season and the next to be able to institute internal reforms," said Quebengco in the letter obtained by The STAR. "Unless we are able to do this, we believe that we cannot achieve the ideals of the UAAP."

The UAAP is also expected to conduct its own investigation on the eligibility case and will convene this month to decide on what action should be taken against the players or De La Salle. There were reports that La Salle is facing suspension for fielding in ineligible players the last two years.

Quebengco added that they would continue to reach out to the school’s stakeholders to reassure them that they would protect the good name of the school.

"While we may be going through this unbearable pain, I am confident that we will overcome this and emerge a stronger institution committed to remaining a resource for Church and the nation ," she said.

Earlier, school officials have ordered the return of the 2004 UAAP men’s senior basketball trophy and instructed their legal counsel to seek assistance of the appropriate investigating authorities to prosecute those who may be found to be criminally liable.

The school has also put into place appropriate measures to see to it that such incident will not happen again.

"Contrary to what our detractors may say, the University has said time and again that it was not involved in any attempt to hide the truth or delay its discovery and our willingness to cooperate with the duly authorized investigating authorities should be seen in this light," added Quebengco.

She also said that the school will institute significant changes in admission policies, specifically with regards to the submission of hand-carried documents after La Salle’s ad-hoc fact-finding committee established that Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian used spurious documents to enter the school.

If La Salle pushes through with its plan to take a leave of absence beginning this season, it would forfeit its campaign in at least eight events, including football, judo, taekwondo, tennis, badminton, athletics, baseball and softball.