Chronology of Events on the SR Issue

Student Regent Issue PDF Print E-mail
Written by Office of the Chancellor
Friday, 05 March 2010 17:10

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS



SDT CASE 08-01
(UPLB and CEB versus Charisse Bernadine Bañez)

SDT CASE 09-14
(UPLB versus Charisse Bernadine Bañez)



Feb. 8, 2008
Five College Secretaries who were members of the Central Electoral Board (CEB) for the University Student Council elections, filed a formal complaint with the UPLB SDT against Ms. Charisse Bernadine I. Bañez, Vice Chair of the UPLB USC, for “behaving with gross misconduct and deliberate discourtesy” against College Secretaries during a meeting of the CEB on February 6, 2008.

Note: While the case was being heard, Ms. Bañez was elected as Chair of the UPLB Student Council for SY 2008-2009.

April 3, 2008
Ms. Banez wrote to Atty. Florinida Blanca, SDT Chair, providing clarification on the complaint filed by some college Secretaries against her, explaining her manner of debating from the perspective of parliamentary procedures, etc.

Sept. 10, 2008
OSA Director Severino E. Cuevas issued a Formal Charge for SDT Case 08-01, UP Los Baños and CEB versus Charisse Bernadine I. Bañez

Feb. 18, 2009
Another complaint letter was submitted by some bona fide UPLB students against all officers of University Student Councils of UPLB since the administration of Mr. Leo XL Fuentes (AY 2007-2008) to the present (AY 2008-2009) led by Ms. Charisse Bernadine Banez, for violations of the UPLB USC Constitution.


April 7, 2009
OSA Director Dr. Vivian A. Gonzales issued Formal Charge for SDT Case 09-14a, UP Los Baños versus Acuña, Arbeen et al which included Charisse Bernadine I. Bañez, for violation of the 1984 Constitution

April 13, 2009
The Student Disciplinary Tribunal rendered a decision on SDT Case 08-01 against Charisse Bernadine I. Banez, finding her “guilty of misconduct” and imposing the “penalty of EXPRESSION OF APOLOGY, both written and oral, and submission of certification that she executed both, with a warning that in case of a second offense, she shall be penalized severely.”

Note: On 14 April 2009, the General Assembly of U.P. Student Councils (GASC) unanimously selected Ms. Bañez as the new 2009 Student Regent.

Note: Ms. Bañez completed all academic requirements for the 2009 graduation but was not recommended for graduation by the University council because of her pending cases.

May 29, 2009
BOR acknowledged the election of Ms. Banez. However, her Oath as Student Regent shall be administered once she has complied with the requirements of the Board during the BOR 1243th meeting held on May 29, 2009 at UP Visayas, to wit:

“1) As required of her by the Student Disciplinary Tribunal, she is to apologize to those she has been found discourteous to, and such apology should be both oral and in writing, publicly made; and

2)As demanded by the UPLB student complainants and as provided for in the rules set by the UPLB students themselves, she is to submit financial reports and other documents to account for proceeds from the February Fairs for her term and that of her predecessor’s.

June 18, 2009
Ms. Bañez wrote a letter of apology to the UPLB CEB and specifically to Prof. Lolita Vega, Prof. Mutya Manalo, Dr. Benjamin Reuel Marte, Prof. Agnes Banzon and Prof. Myrna Borines. Attached to the letter was a certification of the expression of apology. It showed that both written and oral apology was not rendered to Prof. Lolita Vega and an oral apology was not rendered to Prof. Borines. An apology to the CEB as a body was not also rendered.

July 27, 2009
Atty. Peralta, SDT Chair, wrote Dean Asuncion Raymundo informing her that based on the certification submitted by Ms. Bañez, it appears that Ms. Bañez have partially complied with the penalty prescribed by the SDT for SDT Case No. 08-01.

Dec. 7, 2009
The SDT rendered a decision on SDT Case No. 09-14, finding Ms. Bañez guilty and seven other respondents to have “violated the provisions of the 1984 USC Constitution”…and were “ordered suspended for a period not exceeding six months pursuant to Sec 24 (m) of the Rules and Regulations of Student Conduct and Discipline approved by the BOR on June 1992.”

Dec. 10, 2009
Dean Asuncion Raymundo, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, wrote to Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco informing him that Ms. Banez has not enrolled yet for the second semester of AY 2009-2010 and that her status is AWOL. The college also noted the receipt of the suspension order for Ms. Bañez thus she needs to file for Residence this Second Semester AY 2009-2010 to serve the suspension ordered by SDT

Dec. 15, 2009
Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco wrote to Pres. Emerlinda R. Roman informing her that UPLB SDT ordered the suspension of some members of the UPLB Student Council 2008-2009, including Ms. Bañez. He also informed the President of the need for Ms. Bañez to file for residence to serve her suspension but as of this time, she has not enrolled yet, rendering her as a non-bonafide student of UPLB.

Dec. 16, 2009
Ms. Banez wrote to Chancellor Velasco requesting that she be permitted to register or file for residency for the second semester AY 2009-2010. The letter, which was received by the Office of the Chancellor on January 11, 2010, included an authorization for a certain Ma. Elena Carlos to process the request to register or file for residency on her behalf.

Dec. 16, 2009
Ms. Banez submitted Motion for Reconsideration for SDT Case No. 09-14 through her counsel, Atty. Julius G. Matibag.

Jan. 11, 2010
Chancellor Velasco wrote Ms. Banez in response to her letter dated Dec. 16, 2009. He requested Ms. Bañez to submit a written explanation of why she failed to register during the regular registration period. The letter was sent to the Office of the Student Regent and a copy was sent through Ms. Elena Carlos on January 12, 2010.

Jan. 12, 2010
Atty. Julius Garcia Matibag, as Legal Counsel of Ms. Banez, wrote to Dean Asuncion Raymundo, requesting for a leave of absence for the Second Semester AY 2009-2010.

Jan. 12, 2010
The original letter of Ms. Banez addressed to Chancellor Velasco dated Dec. 16, 2009 was withdrawn by Ms. Carlos, accordingly, upon the instruction of Ms Bañez.

Jan. 15, 2010
Ms. Banez called the Office of the Chancellor and confirmed that she asked Ms. Carlos to withdraw her letter request. When asked if she will no longer pursue her request for registration, she said that she is putting it on hold pending the advice of her legal counsel. She also confirmed that she received the reply of the Chancellor dated Jan 11, 2010 to her letter dated Dec. 16, 2009. Further, she inquired if an explanation is the only requirement for the Chancellor to approve her late registration for residence.

Jan. 20, 2010
Ms. Banez responded to Chancellor Velasco’s letter dated January 11, 2010. In her letter, which was received by the Office of the Chancellor on Jan. 28, 2010, Ms. Bañez explained that “… it is most respectfully submitted that the filing of the application for residency of the undersigned for the second semester, 2009-2010, a few days after the regular registration period is not unreasonable.”

Jan. 21, 2010
Dean Asuncion Raymundo wrote to Atty. Julius Matibag disapproving the request for leave of absence (LOA) of Ms. Bañez for the following reasons:

1. The UPLB calendar provides that the last day for filing a leave of absence for those who are not enrolled was on 17 November 2009;

2. Application for leave should be accompanied by the approval of her adviser and her parents, which documents were not submitted;

3. Her application for leave was not accompanied by a clearance required by the College of Arts and Sciences;

4. The reason why she is filing a leave of absence is not clear and not adequately explained;

5. The above requirements should have been filed on or before 17 November 2009.

Feb. 18, 2010
Chan. Velasco replied to Ms. Banez’ letter dated Jan. 20, 2010 informing her “that inasmuch as you did not give concrete reasons why you did not file your application on time, I likewise do not have any basis to favorably act on your request”.

Feb. 23, 2010
Ms. Banez requested Dean Raymundo to allow her to file for late residency for the second semester AY 2009-2010

Feb. 24, 2010
Ms. Banez responded to Chan. Velasco’s letter dated Feb. 18, 2010 requesting to reconsider her request to file late residency for the Second Semester AY 2009-2010 based on several grounds that she presented. Among which is the approval of the late registration for residence of two students of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Feb. 24, 2010
Dean Asuncion Raymundo responded to Ms. Banez’ letter dated Feb. 23, 2010 affirming the decision of the Chancellor disapproving the request for residency. The Dean pointed out “the efforts of the former College Secretary, Prof. Mabini DG. Dizon and her staff to remind and advise you on the need to file for residency for the 2nd semester 2009-2010.”

March 1, 2010
The Office of the Chancellor forwarded the Feb. 24 letter of Ms. Bañez to Dean Raymundo for her comment and recommendation.

March 3, 2010
Dean Raymundo submitted her comments on the letter of Ms. Bañez together with the report of Prof. Mabini Dizon, former College Secretary, regarding the effort of the OCS to notify Ms. Bañez of the need to register before the deadline for filing of residency.

March 4, 2010
Chancellor Velasco responded to the Feb. 24 letter of Ms. Bañez. A copy of the letter was sent to Ms. Bañez through the Office of the Dean, CAS.