A student of Cavite State University holds a banner declaring support to the Vice President during his “State of the Nation Address” at Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite on Monday, August 3, 2015.
INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Cavite State University (CvSU) President Divinia Chavez “swears on her life” that she did not know that Vice President Jejomar Binay was the guest of the August 3 “student assembly” sponsored by its student council.
“Hindi ko po talaga alam. Mamatay na po kaming lahat. Sumusumpa po ako; dalawang kamay akong tumataas na hindi ko po talaga alam,” Chavez was quoted as saying in a 24 Oras report Tuesday night.
(I really did not know. I swear on my life. I raise my two hands and swear that I did not know.)
In the said “student assembly,” Binay gave the “true” State of the Nation Address where he slammed anew the “bumbling and insensitive” government led by President Benigno Aquino III while being silent on the corruption allegations hurled against him.
READ: Binay bewails Aquino’s ‘palpak,’ ‘manhid’ leadership in counter-Sona
CvSU Central Student Government President Vincent Bae owned up for inviting Binay to speak in their school and keeping it secret to the university’s administration.
“We are going to be responsible kung ano po ‘yung ginawa namin. Naniniwala po kami na as a student government, we are somehow very independent (We are going to be responsible for what we did. We believe that as a student government, we are somehow very independent),” he said in the same television report.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda posted on his social media accounts a copy of a memorandum from the Office of the University President requiring third and fourth year college students to attend a “student assembly” sponsored by the Central Student Government. The memo was signed by Chavez.
READ: Lacierda: CvSU students ‘required’ to attend Binay’s counter-Sona
“The Central Student Government (CSG) will be sponsoring a STUDENT ASSEMBLY on Aug. 3, 2015, 4:00 pm at the University Gymnasium. All 3rd and 4th year students are required to attend the said activity,” the alleged memo dated July 30 read, unedited. “Kindly excuse from their classes those who will participate in the said event. Attendance shall be checked by CSG officers. For compliance,” the memo read.
Lacierda dared the CvSU president to explain why the students were required to attend Binay’s speech.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. meanwhile asked the Commission on Higher Education to investigate if there were violations made in holding the vice president’s speech in the guise of a student assembly. IDL