Silliman Leaders Issue 'Statement of Concern'

Members of the University Leadership Council (ULC) issued a "Statement of Concern" in light of the revelations of Mr. Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., former president of the Philippine Forest Corporation, on anomalies involving the aborted NBN-ZTE deal.

The statement, which has gathered close to 500 signatures, called on both citizens and those in government to "act according to the dictates of one's conscience."

"While the University and its constituency seek to uphold the rule of law, we call on all concerned to adhere to what is enshrined in the Philippine constitution that 'public office is a public trust'...."

According to the statement, citizens must always require accountability from government leaders…"and those in government whose integrity may have been sullied to relinquish office immediately in order to protect the sanctity of the same."

To reinforce the call in the statement, the SU Justice and Peace Center organized a "Prayer Rally and Vigil for Truth Telling and Call for Accountability" on February 22 at the SU Church.

"As a Christian institution of higher learning, Silliman University is constantly conscious of its duty to promote what is morally right and just," the statement stressed.

As a "conscience center" and a "moral agent," the members of the ULC said in the press statement, "Silliman University cannot allow the erosion and total disregard of the tenets of transparency and morality in national governance to go unnoticed."

In the statement, members of the ULC expressed their common concern over the state of the country.

"We are simply disgusted and utterly disappointed in the state of our national affairs at this time, which is a far cry from our expectations of what the Filipino people deserve," the statement said.

The ULC is a policy discussion group, coordinating collective vetting and collective governance. It is a transparency (information sharing and dissemination), decision flattening mechanism which discusses and recommends guidelines and approaches for executing and shaping policies. It is composed of Administrators of the University, headed by the University President, and representatives from the Silliman University Student Government, the campus publication, the Weekly Sillimanian, and faculty and staff unions.

-SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY
Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental