ILOILO CITY – Student organizations questioned Sunday, August 7, the decision of the West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Iloilo City to hire First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos as part-time College of Law faculty.
“The decision of the university to admit the First Lady to teach law is a slap on the face, not only to the core values that the institution enshrines, but also an insult to the justice system. A wife of a current President that faces tax evasion cases that will teach criminal law would be a grave insult to the victims of the martial law led by her late father-in-law,” said the WVSU Office of Student Regent in a statement.
WVSU President Dr. Joselito Villaruz had defended hiring the First Lady who applied to be a faculty member.
“Tutulan ang pagkuha kay Ginang Araneta-Marcos bilang part-time na miyembro ng kagawaran ng WVSU College of Law! (Let us oppose the hiring of Mrs. Araneta-Marcos as art-time faculty of the College of Law!),” said the WVSU University Student council in statement, Saturday, August 6.
According to Villaruz, the First Lady is qualified, having taught law in several universities in Metro Manila, including Far Eastern University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. She also taught at Mariano Marcos State University and Northwestern University, both in Ilocos Norte.
Villaruz noted that the First Lady has roots in Iloilo. Her father, Manuel Araneta Jr., is from Iloilo City while her mother, Milagros Ledesma Cacho, has roots in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
The Panay Law Students, an organization affiliated with the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), is worried that the decision of the WVSU administration might “cause dismay and contempt, where potential students and faculty will be discouraged to pursue legal studies.”
Outside the WVSU community, many Ilonggos have reportedly expressed dismay over the hiring of the First Lady.