The University of Makati (UMak) denied Friday, July 22, a partylist group’s claim that it red-tagged one of its students and denied her re-enrollment.
"The University of Makati would like to set the record straight on the allegations made by Kabataan Partylist Makati in its July 17, 2022 Facebook post, which claimed that Ms. Athea Beatrice Papa was ‘red-tagged and denied re-enrollment by the Higher School of University of Makati after being accused of recruiting students into joining terrorist organizations’," UMak said in its Facebook post.
According to UMak, Papa was never red-tagged during her interview with the school's officials nor was denied re-enrollment when she applied for re-admission on July 15.
"During the initial interviews with the College Secretary and the Guidance Counselor, Ms. Papa and her mother were apprised of the Balik-Aral process that all applicants for re-enrollment are required to undergo, including a series of interviews," UMak said.
"At no point in the said interviews was Ms. Papa accused of ‘involvement/joining terrorist organizations’ and being ‘brainwashed’ and ‘indoctrinated’. In fact, it was her mother who tearfully narrated how Ms. Papa had stopped attending her classes without her knowledge, and that she is no longer living with her parents. Mrs. Papa even suggested that her daughter resume her studies in Imus, Cavite where their family resides. The Guidance Counselor offered to release her Certificate of Good Moral Character should she decide to follow her mother’s advice," the university added.
UMak explained that its guidance counselor scheduled Papa for another interview last July 18 with its director of the Center for Student Formation and Discipline as part of its Balik-Aral Program process, but she did not return for the said interview.
"Since Ms. Papa has not completed the process for re-enrollment, an official decision has yet to be made regarding her application," UMak said.
The university also slammed the Kabataan Partylist for claiming that the 2021 edition of the university's handbook contains a provision that "forbids UMak students in (sic) organizing".
"On the contrary, the handbook encourages UMak students to engage actively in recognized student organizations. Through the Center for Student Organization and Activities, all accredited organizations may freely organize, mobilize, and conduct activities based on their interests/specializations," UMak said.
"We wish to assure Makatizens and the public that the University of Makati remains committed to the city's mission of providing quality but affordable tertiary education so citizens from the less privileged sector can be gainfully employed and be able to help uplift the quality of life of their families," it added.