Former Cebu City scholars to Tom O: Help us get ‘withheld’ school records

CEBU, Philippines - At least four former Cebu City scholars enrolled in the Asian College of Technology trooped to the Office of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday, seeking the mayor’s help in their bid to acquire their transcript of records (TORs) from the school.

Lea Mae Casukot, one of the city scholars, said the school they are currently enrolled in will not permit them to graduate on April 7 if they fail to produce their TORs for their two-year course, which they completed at ACT.

 “Graduate mi og two years associate hotel management sa ACT. Ni-proceed mi sa four years but wala na sa ACT kay gipa-transfer before katong previous administration. Karon, sa among gi-transfer-an, dili maka-graduate kun wala among TOR sa ACT,” she said in between tears.

Casukot said she has an outstanding P20,000 balance to ACT which was not paid by the city government.

She said her family cannot afford to settle the payables.

“Hangyo lang mi ni mayor nga ma-release among TOR kay maoy needed sa among school. Upcoming among graduation unya sakit kaayo sa buot gud nga dili maka- graduate,” she said.

Osmeña assured the students that the city government will seek clearance from the Commission on Audit to release the P135 million payment that the city owes to the school.

He said several students of ACT and the Asian College of Technology International Education Foundation (ACTIEF) also called him on the matter.

“We will make arrangement and we will try to pay off ACT. This is what hurts me when I hear a voice or I see a face. Lahi when you see someone cry,” the mayor said.

Osmeña said he will follow the proper procedure in releasing the money that the city owes to the school.

In 2015, former mayor Michael Rama did not allow the city’s scholars to enroll at ACT and/or ACTIEF pending the resolution of the civil case it filed in court against the school.

This stemmed after the anti-graft office in 2014 found ACT owner, Cebu City South District Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa, guilty of grave misconduct for conflict of interest in the city government’s scholarship program.

Abellanosa was ACTIEF president when he signed as city councilor two memorandums of agreement ACTIEF’s participation in the scholarship program on June 24, 2010.

He allegedly participated in the accreditation of schools where city scholars could enroll in.

But the Sandiganbayan recently dismissed the graft case the Office of the Ombudsman filed against Abellanosa. (FREEMAN)