Ateneo exec resigns, school president apologizes over Irene Marcos invite

MANILA, Philippines – The executive director of the creative hub of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) has resigned after widespread criticism when Irene Marcos, the daughter of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos, was invited to grace a campus event.

In a statement on Friday, ADMU President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin said he had accepted the voluntary resignation of Arete Executive Director Yael Buencamino.

“In the spirit of transparency, Ms. Yael Buencamino has voluntarily offered to resign as executive director of Arete. I have accepted her resignation as executive director, even as I acknowledge with gratitude her exemplary performance in shepherding Arete during this nascent stage of its development,” Villarin said.

The late president’s daughter was present at the opening rite of the outdoor art installation at Arete last April 7.

The school’s student council on Monday said her presence was a “mockery” and “grave insult” to survivors of martial law.

Villarin said the university “recognizes that her (Irene Marcos) presence, even in a personal capacity, has cast doubts regarding its solidarity with the victims of the martial law regime.”

“We offer our deepest apologies for the hurt this has brought,” Villarin said.

“It is my hope that, as an open community of learners, we learn from our missteps. I call on the University community to hold fast to our commitment to justice and peace, and to help one another remain vigilant, especially during this time of forgetfulness,” he added. /gsg