Leyco retracts statement on his retirement as PLM President

“Muli ko pong inuulit sa inyo, tutuparin ko ang tungkulin na aking sinumpaan hanggang sa [aking] makakaya at makakasama sa pagsulong ng PLM,” said University President Emmanuel Leyco as he addressed the current status of the PLM in the UniFAST delistment, Sept. 18.

Leyco previously stated that despite having announced his plan to retire, he added that “...nais ko pong bigyan ng kapanatagan ng loob ang mga kasamahan natin na nangangarap na patuloy na isulong ang kapakanan ng PLM.”

READ MORE: Leyco will step down on Sept. 29 - source

During the morning ceremonies, Leyco gave updates to the PLM community regarding the ongoing fight for free quality tertiary education in line with the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) possible recommendation to delist the university from its subsidy reimbursement program. 

The University President used the University of the Philippines (UP) as an example, having Atty. Angelo Jimenez as its President. Jimenez finished his Master’s in Public Management at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and did not pursue a doctoral degree. Leyco then explained that the very law that established UP is no different from the law that created PLM, and wondered why this is now an issue to the commission.

Leyco expressed his disappointment on how hearsays and indifferences of the interpretation of the law impact the university and its stakeholders. He also reiterated that no personal interest shall come first before the interest and goals of PLM. 

With this, the University President made clear to the whole PLM community that he will not be stepping down from the presidency.

“Kung kaya’t nais ko pong iparating sa inyo; ako po ay nanumpa na itataguyod ang interes ng PLM. Ako po ay nanumpa at sa loob ng apat na taon, mayroon ba tayong nakita? Mayroon ba tayong mga pangyayari na sa pamumuno ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ay inilugmok [nito] ang PLM? Tayo ba ay pumalya na magpasweldo? Tayo ba ay pumalya na magbigay-daan ang pagsulong ng ating mga kawani? Bagamat tayo ay dumaan sa gitna ng napakahirap na pandemya, itinawid natin ang PLM,” Leyco said.

Furthermore, other university officials were also called on stage to give updates on the ongoing issue. Vice President for Finance Ms. Andrea Solomon-Malunes announced that PLM has received a sum amount of Php 127 million last Monday from CHED’s UniFAST for the second semester of Academic Year 2022-2023.

Meanwhile, University and Board of Regents Secretary Atty. Carlo Florendo Castro stated that the university administration will be submitting a position paper to CHED, signed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The said paper will encapsulate their objection to the treatment of PLM as a local university and college.

Leyco gave his assurance to the university officials, stakeholders, and the studentry that he will put his best foot forward in advancing the welfare of Manila’s premier university.