In an unprecedented move, four members of the UP Board of Regents (BOR) have publicly declared their support for former UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo ahead of the chancellor selection on Monday.
The faculty, student, and staff regents have reached a consensus to vote for Nemenzo due to his support for democratic governance, academic freedom, and welfare of UP workers, among others. The same statement said Raul Pagdanganan, a Malacañang-appointee regent, will also support Nemenzo for the chancellorship.
“Ibinabahagi namin ang mga ito sa paninindigang bahagi ng demokratikong pamamahala ang pagiging bukas at pagkakaroon ng pananagutan sa mahahalagang desisyon para sa kinabukasan ng pamantasan,” read the sectoral regents’ joint statement released Saturday morning.
The regents added that they have released their votes ahead of the meeting to demonstrate their commitment to a transparent and democratic chancellor selection process. In an earlier statement, the sectoral regents expressed concerns over the rescheduling of the Diliman chancellor selection from April 27 to April 3, the first day of the Lenten Break.
The rescheduling of the board meeting also puts into question whether the regents will have sufficient time to review the search committee report on the three nominees. The search committee has yet to send their report to the BOR as of Saturday morning, the UP Office of the Student Regent said.
But with four votes secured, Nemenzo is just two votes shy from securing another three-year term as the chancellor of the UP System’s flagship campus. While still short of an outright win, the endorsement is a much-needed boost for the former chancellor who mounted an unsuccessful bid for the UP presidency in December last year.
“I am grateful to [the sectoral regents] for their open endorsement and support for my bid for [the] chancellorship. Malaking pasasalamat din kay Regent Pagdanganan for his support and for standing with the sectoral regents who represent the voice of the UP community,” Nemenzo told the Collegian shortly after the regents announced their support.
And with only seven votes up for grabs, the path to victory of the two remaining nominees, Archaeology Professor Victor Paz and Law Dean Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, has effectively become slimmer. Both Paz and Vistan could only afford to lose one of the seven BOR members to become the 12th Diliman chancellor.
While Nemenzo stopped short of declaring victory, he stressed that the sectoral regents’ support is an indication that he has the backing of the university community.
“It’s not a done deal, I need six [votes] to win. But this open declaration can be a game-changer because it is a clear manifestation of community support. This [endorsement] has not been done before and the regents will have to listen to the resounding expression of support from the community,” Nemenzo said.
The endorsement of the four regents is all but certain to put pressure on the remaining seven members of the board, which have been under fire due to the inconsistent timing and secretive process of the chancellor selection.
Various university formations have called on the UPD community to join the mobilization on Monday morning at Quezon Hall to amplify calls for a transparent and democratic selection process for the next UPD chancellor.
“On Monday, I remain hopeful that the Board of Regents will listen to and vote with the community,” Nemenzo said. “Rest assured, if elected chancellor, I will uphold the ideals and principles that we in UP have consistently stood for.” ●
Watch our interviews with the three nominees here.
