The UP Board of Regents (BOR) on Monday afternoon selected UP College of Law Dean Edgardo Carlo Vistan II to be the 12th chancellor of UP Diliman (UPD), defying the support of the sectoral regents—representing the student, faculty, and staff sectors—who backed former Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo.
UP President Angelo Jimenez announced the results of the board’s four-hour deliberation while being flanked by the Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota, Student Regent Siegfred Severino, and Staff Regent Victoria Canape-Belegal.
Vistan was also present at the steps of Quezon Hall but was immediately ushered away by security after members of the UP community demanded an overturn of the board’s decision.
“Tulad ng pagtanggap ko sa chancellorship na ibinigay ng UP Diliman [at] ibinigay ng Board of Regents sa atin, tinatanggap ko rin yung batikos at hinaing ng ating mga sectors,” Vistan told the Collegian shortly after his selection. “Pakikinggan ko yan, at hindi na ako makahintay na makaupo sa ibang sitwasyon na malumanay tayong lahat.”
Members of the UP community who were present at Quezon Hall entered the building to demand the board to reverse its decision selecting Vistan. The groups also demanded that the board release its final tally of votes.
Ahead of the meeting, some UPD formations were already dubious over the transparency of the selection process after the date of the chancellor selection was moved thrice.
Of the 11-member BOR, only Ramota, Severino, Belegal, and Regent Raul Pagdanganan publicized their vote ahead of the board meeting. On Saturday, the four said they will vote for Nemenzo. At least six votes—a simple majority—is required to be selected chancellor.
The Collegian also understands that the search committee report tilted heavily in favor of Nemenzo. The former chancellor earned the backing of various sectors, including the UPD University Student Council, All UP Academic Employees Union, and All UP Workers Alliance. Vistan, meanwhile, had an endorsement from the UP Law Student Government.
Vistan, who holds the rank of an assistant professor of law, will be the first chancellor from the UP College of Law, where he began teaching in 2015. He is also a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. He will serve a three-year term until 2026. ●
