1 vs 7 – Despite SR’s objection, BOR approves De Guzman’s "dictatorship"

With one vote from the Student Regent against it, the Board of Regents (BOR) of PUP unanimously approved Pres. Emanuel De Guzman's appeal to delegate the authority to him on signing financial contracts and joint ventures, increase his signing limit up to P1,000,000.00, and file criminal and civil cases on behalf of the university.

Last June 25, the 153rd Regular BOR meeting was held at CHED together with the protest action of the students from PUP. "We firmly condemn these schemes of monopolizing power of the administration since these widely affect students all over the university system," said Frances Ern Meriveles, from Kabataan Partylist - College of Engineering and Architecture. As he continued, "These will also ensure the intensification of welcoming private entities inside [the] University and much commercialization on education. The students are united; and we firmly say no!"

The approved agenda include the power of the president to control the rental fees of all facilities including canteen stalls, Hasmin hostel, function halls, etc. Also, the president has now the power to file criminal and civil cases on behalf of the university against anyone the admin chooses. "This is a tactic of the admin to pacify students and employees to fight these anti-student and commercialization policies. We must continuously stand against this!" Frances Ern ended.