The University of the East (UE) on Tuesday, Sept. 23, joined the Filipino nation in demanding truth, justice, and accountability amid emerging allegations of systemic corruption, stressing its “resolute and unequivocal stance” against misconduct.

“We in the University of the East join the Filipino nation in seeking the truth and calling for justice and accountability in the midst of emerging allegations of systemic corruption. We affirm our resolute and unequivocal stance on this grave matter, seeing how pervasive misconduct impedes upon numerous facets of our lives and so demands our unyielding attention and proactive engagement,” UE said in a statement issued by its president and chief academic officer Dr. Zosimo Battad.

The university underscored its commitment to integrity, accountability, and transparency, saying these values have long guided its mission of cultivating responsible citizens.

“The University of the East champions and upholds the core values of integrity, accountability and transparency. These fundamental principles have long guided our conduct as we cultivate society’s future leaders from all walks of life into becoming productive, law-abiding and peace-loving citizens of our motherland and the world,” it said.

UE stressed there is “no place in society” for public officials who break the law and citizens who misuse taxpayer contributions for personal enrichment.

“There should be no place in society for officials who break the law or citizens who engage in practices involving the people’s hard-earned taxpayer contributions for wanton enrichment,” it said.

The university added that recent revelations of unethical behavior must be met with institutional reforms and civic engagement to bring about accountability that “can heal wounds that have long and systemically plagued the lives of ordinary Filipinos struggling to make ends meet through honest work and decent living.”

Acknowledging the active role of its community, UE thanked students, faculty, and alumni for their fortitude in speaking out.

“We thank everyone in the UE community for their passion and fortitude in the ongoing, widespread discourse of this national issue. Such critical thinking and assertions of their entitlements and advocacy for their rights are admirable as they are invaluable,” the statement said.

UE acknowledged that combating corruption is arduous but vowed to persist by fostering a culture that promotes honesty and accountability.

“We thus support efforts at attaining solutions for both the immediate future and the long term through peaceful and orderly means, and condemn actions that will entail violence or harm of any kind on even a single individual,” it added.