The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is looking into the complaint by students against their school that barred them from graduation after they criticized the school’s policies. (Courtesy of CHED)

“We deem the resolution of this matter a critical matter,” CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera said in a statement issued Friday, June 23. He was referring to the case of student critics who were barred from Pamantasan ng Cabuyao (PNC) in Laguna. De Vera said his office received a complaint letter from Joshwell Miko Decena and Jomar Aquino against the PNC. The students urged CHED to take action following the “extremely punitive and unreasonable sanctions” imposed on them by PNC for employing online parody in the criticism of their school policies. The letter, De Vera said, requested the CHED to “intervene in the matter in order that they can graduate this semester.” De Vera said he instructed CHED Executive Director Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro and Legal and Legislative Services Director Frederick Farolan to “immediately look into the matter.” CHED, he added, is waiting for the response of the PNC and “needed actions” --- if any --- that the Commission “may undertake.” De Vera pointed out that the issues raised, particularly on the student's right to ventilate their sentiments, and the penalties imposed on them are “serious and must be looked into.” This, he added, affects not only the “completion of the studies of our students but touches on the fundamental right of expression of students in our ever-changing academic environment.” In now-viral posts, Aquino and Decena took to social media to air their sentiments against PNC for barring them from graduation rites on June 26. Following this, the PNC's Board of Regents overturned its sanctions on the students after a thorough assessment and review of the situation.