Bencab, NCCP bishops back Nemenzo for UP president

The Oblation, the iconic symbol of the University of the Philippines signifying selfless offering of oneself to his country, stands in its Baguio campus. (Photo by Denver Del Rosario)

BAGUIO CITY — National Artist Benedicto Cabrera (BenCab) and Bishop Reuel Marigza, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines joined more than 50 Baguio community leaders, who backed the candidacy of math professor Fidel Nemenzo for president of the University of the Philippines (UP).

An endorsement letter delivered on Friday, Dec. 2, to Baguio Rep. Marquez Go, was signed by Baguio and Cordillera school heads, business leaders, and retired faculty members, including UP Baguio’s first chancellor Priscilla Supnet-Macansantos, University of the Cordilleras Board of Trustees Vice chair and President Ray Dean Salvosa, and United Church of Christ in the Philippines Bishop Joseph Agpaoa of the northern Luzon jurisdiction.

The city leaders said Nemenzo, currently chancellor of UP Diliman, was a multi-awarded scholar, who supported UP Baguio’s programs on indigenous peoples and knowledge.

More importantly, they said, Nemenzo led institutional reforms that espoused a “systematic, immediate, and science-based response to the (coronavirus) pandemic.”

Many of the signatories were UP alumni.

The Inquirer received a copy of the letter during investiture rites for UP Baguio’s third chancellor and UP scientist Corazon Abanao, which was led by outgoing UP President Danilo Concepcion.

Nemenzo attended the ceremonies.

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