Suan backs complaint against head of scholarship program, brgy. chair

“ANG atong kabatan-onan, let them be, give them the freedom to choose, it is their right.”

This was stressed by Councilor Lordan G. Suan in his special report during the regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy relative to some reports and complaints from city scholars who were allegedly threatened removal from the City Scholarship Program if they will not refrain from joining and participating in the activities of a certain political group.

Councilor Suan said he was given screenshots of private messages sent by no less than the head of the City Scholarship Program.

Another set of screenshots showing a certain barangay chairman of a hinterland barangay who appeared berating some scholars for expressing and exercising their right to democracy were also sent to him as proof of the complaint, Suan added.

The misdemeanors of the said public officials should not be tolerated. They should appear before the City Council to shed light on the allegations of threats against the scholars, the councilor pointed out.

With reference to Section 7 of The City Scholarship Program, a student may only be terminated from the scholarship if he/she fails to reach the average grade requirement, fails to enroll the required subjects, enrolls in a different institution or shifts to another program and goes into absence without leave.

The scholar may also be terminated if he/she exceeds the time allowed to finish the program, committed unethical behavior inside and outside of the school campus, convicted of any crime by a court or proper administrative body, consistently neglected his/her submission of post enrollment requirements and fails to submit renewal requirements within the given period.

Moreover, the scholar may likewise be removed from the program if he/she issues a statement and/or commits misinterpretation or deceitful conduct.

Other acts that may be considered as inimical to the interest of the city government and those that adversely affect the integrity of the scholarship program are also grounds for his/her termination, The Gavel learned.

“I don’t see any item here that says that if you don’t vote for the administration slate, you will be removed from the scholarship. Wala nakasulat sa grounds nga ipaundang ka sa pagka scholar kung di ka mobotar sa usa ka politiko. These people are trying to control how our city scholars think by using deceptions and lies for political gains and that is just wrong,” Suan manifested.

Vice Mayor Uy referred Suan’s report to the committee on education chaired by Councilor Suzette M. Daba for appropriate action.