MANILA, Philippines — The valedictorian of a Quezon City Catholic school embroiled in a controversy over a viral video has broken her silence.
In a TV interview aired Tuesday night, the valedictorian of Sto. Niño Parochial School (SNPS) told school mate, salutatorian Krisel Mallari, to just accept that she could not get the top place in their batch.
The controversy broke after Mallari insinuated in a speech during their graduation that she was cheated out of being named valedictorian. A video of school officials stopping Mallari from delivering the speech has gone viral on social media.
The valedictorian, whose identity was withheld, said Mallari’s speech tarnished the reputation of the school.
BACKSTORY: Watch: Salutatorian speech interrupted by QC school execs
“Krisel, I wish that you learn to accept that some things are not meant for you. You should not tarnish the reputation of the school. Many were hurt (by your allegations),” said the valedictorian.
Denying any cheating, the valedictorian said she was allowing the recomputation of her grades to put the issue to rest.
She also denied that her family bribed the school so that she would be named class valedictorian.
“The school did nothing wrong. The allegation that our family bribed the school so that I can be the valedictorian is not true. We are not that rich to do that,” she said.
For her part, Mallari said that all she wanted was an overhaul of the school’s system, saying that SNPS played favorites.
Mallari’s four minute speech, which already garnered more than 2 million views on YouTube, showed how school officials repeatedly tried to interrupt her “welcome remarks” during their graduation last March 20.
The video drew various reactions from netizens.
READ: Student group lauds salutatorian Krisel Mallari for speaking vs injustice
The Department of Education has already launched an investigation into Mallari’s case, saying it would probe the content of her speech, the issues discussed or left out, and whether the school was within its right to stop her from speaking.
READ: DepEd launches probe on salutatorian Krisel Mallari’s speech