The PLM “Silent” Student Council
Written by Jared Luis Ysmael Sicat • Board by Jian Muyano | 30 January 25
In any democratic system, transparency and accountability are foundational principles. It ensures that leaders act in the best interest of their constituents, gaining trust and integrity from their followers. But when these principles are replaced by pure silence, the consequence “should be” extensive—yet, in some cases, their initial roles become entirely forgotten.
It has been two months since a now-deleted Facebook post from an anonymous account exposed screenshots of the entire executive officers and other college representatives from the Supreme Student Council (SSC) depicting derogatory comments to their fellow officers and even the former director of the Office of Student Development Services (OSDS).
Friends and Foes
What seemed to be a blind-item extravaganza between assumed SSC President Denisse Margarette Madrid, Vice President Axcel Rose Bates, Secretary Cee Jay Sureta, Treasurer Lheanmuel Sawit, Public Relations Officer Joseph Andrei Torres, College Representatives Danica Rose Olat (CL), Glen Suetos (CASBE) and John Mark Guiao (CED) revealed a derogatory tear down against their supposed allies in the council leaving no one safe from ill comments, not even former OSDS Director Dr. Lynette G. Cleto.
Ang Pamantasan (AP) verified the authenticity of the circulating screenshots through some members of the council who consented to anonymity.
Moreover, AP reached out to those involved for their statement including College Representatives Andrea Cuevas (CED), Madielyn Retiro (CHASS), Mithi Redem Laya Morales (CHASS) and Phobie Jochelle Angoluan (CE) who were most visibly defamed in the screenshots. Yet, as of this writing, they haven’t outwardly commented on the issue.
In line with this, a source told AP that the SSC organized a member-only meeting about the issue, with the accused council executives reasoning that the controversial messages were “mere venting” and that the group chat was primarily made for coordinating various concerns during their Freshie Welcoming Walk.
Responsibilities Left Unattended
What made the situation worse was the SSC’s lack of response thereof. Instead of addressing the issue with clarification and taking proactive steps, the council opted for silence in hopes of “silencing” the issue along with it.
Two weeks after the incident, the official SSC Facebook page was hacked, pulling the attention away from the issue. The hacked page, renamed “Kolat Ugez,” was left unattended, with no effort to recover or establish a new communication channel for the students.
Public statements made to clarify the situation including any resignations or impeachments remain absent. This includes discussion on future events considering no efforts are seen to address the legitimate concerns of the student body.
The SSC’s Legacy
This isn’t the first time the SSC has faced such controversies. In 2023, former SSC President Vince Edrick De Guzman and other officers were embroiled in a similar scandal when screenshots from a group chat titled “Mga Backstabbers” surfaced.
READ: Anonymous post exposes alleged bullying within PLM-SSC
https://www.angpamantasan.org/news/anonymous-post-exposes-alleged-bullying-within-plm-ssc
The thread, shared by an anonymous X (Twitter) account, exposed the bullying and demeaning remarks of the officers toward their colleagues—igniting outrage among students.
SSC P.R.O. Joseph Andrei Torres, one of the victims during this scandal, happened to be one of the cyberbullies involved in the new screenshots. Despite his tormented past with the previous council, he campaigned for the same position once again and when asked regarding his experiences which qualify as an effective leader during Harapan 2024, he answered:
“Marami akong lesson natutunan and sa pagiging involved ko as one of the victims do’n sa student council, ngayon natuto na ako kung ano nga ba ang dapat nating gawin upang hindi na maulit yung mga ganitong issue.”
And yet one year later, history repeated itself, with him as one of the bullies. This pattern of misconduct constantly resurfaces within the SSC, further tarnishing its credibility. Their recurring failures as the governing body beg the question on how such behavior continues to plague the council meant to embody leadership and service.
Hypocrites at the Helm
The SSC’s silence is an ultimate betrayal to the role they promised to serve—with the student body left hanging with the events that should’ve been passed by the SSC but instead, shouldered by the OSDS.
Justice has not been served for the humiliation the victims faced due to their insulting messages. The students also deserve a public explanation, if not an apology, from the absence and the breach of trust. This includes transparency from the hacked Facebook page to the refusal to address the screenshots publicly. The SSC has demonstrated an alarming disconnect from the students whom they represent.
Leadership demands accountability, especially in times of crisis. Yet the ones expected by the students to stand up, cowardly meek out in the corners of their own comfort as the students–to whom they feed with lavish promises of being with them, continuously fend for themselves in the abyss.
SSC VP Axcel Rose Bates, when asked about accountability from the student council incidents like bullying during Harapan 2024, said: “Ihohold accountable natin sila bilang isang student leader. Naniniwala ako na ang isang tunay na lider ay marunong makinig sa masa, marunong magpuna, at marunong magwasto.”
It’s hypocritical that these very things and actions were advocated and fought by the officers during their campaign yet they did not rightfully adhere to what they promised.
These very principles should not be optional for student leaders—but their duty.