STC student takes break, skips college

ONE of the girls barred from attending their high school graduation rites by St. Theresa’s College (STC) last March won’t pursue  college education just yet.

Her lawyer Cornelio Mercado said his client decided to travel and set aside schooling for now.

“What do you expect? It may be the consequence of what  happened,” Mercado told reporters.

The girl, along with four other senior students, were prohibited from attending their high school graduation rites last March 30 as punishment for posting “lewd” photos on Facebook and committing other violations of the Student Handbook. But STC lawyer Joan Largo said it is unfair to blame the school if the girl doesn’t want to finish her studies now.

“Whatever happened should not be attributed to the school. It was not STC that brought up the issue before the court. It wasn’t the school which started to publicize the issue,” Largo said in a separate interview.

On the non-issuance of a  Certificate of Good Moral Character, Largo said most reputable colleges and universities in Cebu don’t usually ask for it.  Largo didn’t elaborate if STC is willing to release the certificate to the girls.  Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Manuel Patalinghug of Branch 22 is set to release tomorrow a ruling on whether he will continue handling the case.

Patalinghug earlier inhibited from the case, saying the family court that he presides lacks jurisdiction over a civil case for injunction which was filed against the school. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol