PSHS asks public to respect privacy, maintain dignity of scholars

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Science High School on Wednesday urged the public to respect the privacy and maintain the dignity of its students following a photo-sharing scandal that hounded their community.

Six graduating students were barred from joining the graduating rites scheduled on Wednesday after they allegedly shared lewd photos of fellow students online.

READ: 6 na estudyante ng Phil. Science HS, ban sa graduation rites dahil sa photo scandal

The school’s Board of Trustees (BOT) earlier decided to allow the students involved to attend the graduation rites, but it reversed its decision following statements from the community.

READ: Controversy hounds Pisay graduation

“The Philippine Science High School System Board of Trustees is saddened by recent news events involving our scholars,” a statement from the country’s premier science high school read.

“We pray the media and the public at large to respect the privacy and maintain the dignity of our scholars, and not aggravate the issue further which unnecessarily puts those children’s future at risk,” PSHS added.

The school also clarified that under the PSHS Charter, citing Republic Act (RA) 8496 and later amended as RA 9036, the school’s BOT has “exclusive authority to resolve or decide matters of non-graduation or termination of scholarship, based on extensive consultation and comprehensive facts, including, but not limited to, precedent cases and specific circumstances.”

https://www.facebook.com/Philippine.Science.High.School.System/photos/a.1656265191275219/2396038123964585/?type=3&theater&_rdc=1&_rdr

PSHS also said three of the six students who did not march will get their diplomas, while the other three will only get certificates of completion.

“All six students have to comply with additional requirements that are part of the sanctions given them,” PSHS said. “We assure the public that the PSHS Board has exerted best efforts in arriving at this decision and we request that this be respected.”

“We urge everyone to move forward from this incident and provide the needed support to the students and the PSHS community,” PSHS added. (Editor: Eden Estopace)