The College Editors Guild of the Philippines in Negros Occidental condemned yesterday the final decision of the West Negros University Tuesday to dismiss the five editors of their school publication, the Wesneco Torch.

On September 16, WNU terminated the editors for allegedly maintaining an Internet access/blog, circulating leaflets inciting the students to open it without informing their moderator and the school administration, and inciting students to rally against WNU.

The administration also ordered the temporary closure of the school publication until reorganization has been made.

Terminated were Vanessa Ducay (editor in chief), Nicky Hormegoso (associate editor), Jan Christian Carmona (managing editor), Raulene Rosarial (editorial board secretary for Internal Affairs) and Raiza Cherie Boyles (secretary for external affairs).

In their official statement yesterday, CEGP-Negros president Randell Aranza said this is a manifestation of how repressive the present education system in the Philippines is.

Aranza said their group will go on with the fight even if the editors have lost the initial part of the battle and will continue to seek justice for the dismissed editors.

He also said the dismissed editors will not be responsible for any actions that CEGP-Negros will initiate in the following weeks because CEGP will continue to defend campus press freedom as a separate and independent entity.

WNU vice president for Administration Elmar Bolivar said the school decided not to take away yet the 100 percent scholarship of the dismissed editors until next semester, out of consideration.

Bolivar said they will elevate the case to their disciplinary board so necessary penalties will be imposed on the student journalists. The dismissed editors could still join other school organizations, including the Supreme Student Government if they wish to, he added.

The school will reorganize the school publication and will rehire new student writers, who will undergo seminars and trainings, Bolivar said.

Ducay, meanwhile, said they were saddened by the decision of the WNU but said there is still life after Wesneco Torch.

She said that after their case has been elevated to their disciplinary board, they will either be reprimanded, suspended or expelled from the school. She said she will continue her studies, while some of her companions may stop schooling.

Ducay thanked CEGP, some of their teachers and the students and the administration of WNU for listening to their side.*APN

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