With 44 out of 56 present, student councils from across the UP System agreed to denounce former UP Los Baños Chancellor Fernando Sanchez’s bid for the UP Presidency and urged the Board of Regents to select UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo during an online emergency General Assembly of Student Councils (eGASC), December 7, Wednesday.
Denouncement of Dr. Fernando Sanchez
After reports were made by various constituent units and Student Regent Siegfred Severino, the whole-day session proceeded to the resolution building where the two resolutions to denounce Sanchez and endorse Nemenzo were approved by the body
UPLB University Student Council manifested that students should reject Sanchez’s candidacy because of his anti-student policies and silence amid red-tagging attacks during his chancellorship.
The resolution further dictated that Dr. Sanchez’s ineptitude led to the creation of the “No To Third Term Coalition,” a successful multi-sectoral effort that blocked and denied Dr. Sanchez his third chance at the chancellorship of UPLB last 2020.
Rebranded as the “No More Chances, Sanchez (NMCS) Coalition,” the group sent a letter to the members of the UP Board of Regents saying Sanchez did nothing to address concerns about employee and student welfare, undemocratic leadership and abuse of authority, questionable character, lack of command responsibility, and silence on local and national issues.
The resolution further stated that should Dr. Sanchez win for Presidency, his honor is legitimately in doubt due to the pending complaints brought against him in the Office of the Ombudsman — a contrast to the University’s motto of honor and excellence.
“Ang track record ni Sanchez ay kulang at hindi kanais-nais na maging UP President,” the UPLB USC mentioned.
The council expressed their support of the resolution presented, as the UPD College of Science Student Council moved to adopt the resolution, with the UP Mindanao USC and UP Baguio USC also expressing their support.
“Klarong-klaro na sa atin na hindi niya mau-uphold ang mga kampanya na ating isinusulong, hindi lamang bilang estudyante ng UP kundi pati na rin bilang mamamayang Pilipino,”UPB USC added.
Therefore, the councils approved GASC Resolution No. 2022-35 as they resolved to support the No More Chances, Sanchez Coalition’s efforts to prevent a Sanchez UP Presidency.
Endorsement of Fidel Nemenzo
The session then proceeded to tackle the resolution authored by the UPD USC to endorse Fidel Nemenzo as the next UP President.
UPB read a portion of their letter of support to the candidacy of Nemenzo, stating that he is the most outstanding nominee in terms of being pro-people and pro-student.
Likewise, the UPD CSSC cited his opposition to mandatory ROTC and campus militarization, as well his passion for upholding academic freedom by supporting the institutionalization of the UP-DND Accord.
The resolution cited specific obligations that the UP President must fulfill — to uphold the UP Charter and pursue the goals and Vision-Mission as pledged to the UP community, to recognize the right of students to have quality and accessible education, and to ensure the democratic and safe spaces in the University – and said that Nemenzo was the candidate most qualified to fulfill these obligations.
“Ilalaban po natin siya kasi wala po tayong ibang qualified na nominees kundi siya lang. I-eexhaust natin lahat ng means to mobilize lahat ng students at kakalampagin ang BOR para pakinggan ang panawagan ng mga estudyante,”the UPD USC affirmed its stand to support Nemenzo’s candidacy.
Several councils, including the UPLB USC, were wary of endorsing Nemenzo, saying that it might be best to focus on the broadest point of unity, denouncing Sanchez.
They said that they were not directly endorsing any candidate because they are keen on campaigning against Sanchez and see that opposing his candidacy must be the body’s unity point.
“Kung hindi si Nemenzo, hindi rin dapat si Sanchez,” they added.
The UPM USC reaffirmed UPLB USC’s stance, stating the need to elect a UP President that also considers the needs of other College units, such as the School of Health Sciences.
But the councils also saw the need to provide a clear alternative to Sanchez and call for a UP President that will listen to the students’ demands.
“Kailangan nating mapanghawakan dito ang magkaroon ng representante na papakinggan ang ating mga hinaing. Tungtungan natin yung anti-Sanchez resolution, at kailangang maiupo na ang susunod na UP president ay kayang hawakan ang ating mga kampanya,”said the UPB USC.
After much discussion, the councils unanimously approved GASC Resolution No. 2022-36, calling Nemenzo the candidate most in line with the student agenda and endorsing his candidacy.
Featured image courtesy of UP Office of the Student Regent
