The University of St. La Salle has given the 21-year-old Bachelor of Science in Information Technology freshman, who was involved in a malicious and vulgar post against Vice President Leni Robredo, a “chance for transformation”.
The school is allowing him to continue his studies at the USLS for the current semester despite indignation from some sectors in the Lasallian community and netizens after his post went viral in late November last year.
The USLS Disciplinary Advisory Board, after reportedly conducting a thorough investigation, decided that BSIT major Johnrey Apellido be allowed to stay in school, hoping this is one way for him to learn and embrace Lasallian values, Bro. Joaquin Severino Martinez, FSC, St. La Salle president, said.
Martinez said he is fully satisfied with the decision of the disciplinary board to give “the chance of transformation to the student” as well as imbibe “Christian virtues and Lasallian values”.
Martinez argued it would be counter-productive to disallow him to stay because “we believe that the school has the capabilities to assist him get Lasallian education, transform him and make his life successful”.
Apellido’s post in late November 2020 stirred the entire La Salle community.
The university immediately launched a probe and called the attention of the Talisay City-based Apellido family.
The student, who called himself a DDS follower and a Marcos apologist, took down his malicious post and issued an apology on his FB account.
Martinez explained that Apellido was new to the university, attending classes online for barely four months, when he made the vulgar and graphic post against Robredo.
Martinez said the investigation was thorough and the disciplinary board’s decision was based on the student’s handbook.
Martinez, however, said the maximum penalty (of expulsion) was not applied against Apellido.
The advisory board believed in the value of transformation and the need for the institution to assist the erring student in his continuing education, the USLS top executive continued.
Consequently, Apellido was not prevented to re-enroll this semester but with some conditions, he said but did not divulge further details.
But it was not immediately known, Martinez said, if the student concerned is still willing to continue his studies at the USLS.
He added that if residents of Bahay Pag-asa are given the opportunity for education when many of them are facing raps in court, why can’t Apellido be given a chance for transformation when no case has been filed against him.
Bahay Pag-asa is a USLS-founded and run institution that serves as residence and youth center which take care of children in conflict with the law to give them hope to transform through Christian values.
The disciplinary board relayed its decision to Apellido in December yet and the school administration believed that it has done its job by conducting an impartial investigation and rendering a fair decision, Martinez said. – MML
