Poor students target of rap vs school, says Braganza

Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza on Saturday described as “political harassment” the decision of the provincial board to investigate him on the basis of a complaint from a private school owner who wanted to stop the state university in the province from operating in his city.

“Plain and simple, this is political harassment with a single objective: terrorize the poor but deserving students of our province to prevent them from enrolling at the Pangasinan State University (PSU) in Alaminos,” Braganza said in a statement.

“My political opponents have linked arms with a private educator to stop the city of Alaminos from providing the youth with the opportunity to avail themselves of affordable but quality education,” Braganza added.

PSU Alaminos is a project of the city government, which provided the 4.5-hectare land and a two-storey building, and PSU, which is in charge of faculty, instructional materials, laboratory equipment and office facilities.

The PSU-Alaminos, the state university’s 10th campus in the province, opened in June 2010.

Braganza expressed surprise that the board accommodated the complaint and proceeded with the disciplinary proceeding against him even if the provincial board has no jurisdiction on the issue.