ACADEMIC GROWTH VS. POLITICAL NECESSITY

DURING the 36^th episode last Thursday of our weekly online TV program, ‘PRANGKAHAN Sa FlashTV,’ one of the news we reported was the grievances of students from the College of Agriculture and College of Medicine of the Mindanao State University (MSU), whose main campus is based in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

From their social media posts, the students expressed their disappointment on the decision of MSU System President and Main Campus Chancellor Atty. Paisalin Pangandaman ‘Popoy’ Tago, to disallow them from participating in two important student congresses, citing the order of President Marcos Jr. for all government agencies to cut all “unnecessary travel” as we continue to battle the adverse effects of the ongoing war in the Middle East between the United States, Israel and Iran.

In yet a separate post cum “open letter,” we learned that MSU alumni are also very much dismayed with Tago for denying them the use of the Marawi campus for their reunion.

Can you imagine that? You are not allowed to step on the grounds of the school where you graduated during your reunion?

On the surface, these denials would appear “reasonable” given the present situation not only here in our country but in most countries as well.

The problem, however, is that Tago is not from the academe and thus does not know how to exercise discernment and proper judgement when he used his discretionary power as MSU top honcho and denied his students the chance to prove their worth.

Heck, he has not even run a kindergarten or elementary school and thus does not appreciate the importance of MSU students participating in these congresses—the Federation of Agriculture Students in Mindanao (FASMIN) Congress and the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) Student Network Congress.

These students are not actually going on a picnic or a “sosyalan,” as Tago or his many advisers probably imagined.

As the students’ posts stated, these events are a chance for them to compete with their peers in various fields. And if they win, the credit, expectedly, would also redound to the MSU and to Tago in particular, right?

Such a challenge is what gives inspiration to our youth to prove what they are really capable of that was quelled by Tago because of his mental rigidity. Want to squash a young student’s dream? This is one way of doing it.

Here, therefore, lies the problem when a bureaucrat and a politician like Tago is allowed to run an educational institution.

And not just any institution of higher learning BUT, the Mindanao State University, the state university envisioned by law to be at par with the University of the Philippines (UP) in terms of academic excellence.

From our research, we found that Tago got the post of MSU President and Main Campus Chancellor after the death in May 2025 of President Basari Mapupuno– thru the backing of his cousin, former budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

Yes folks, the same Amenah Pangandaman who was forced to resign last November after being tagged as among the main beneficiaries of the multi-trillion pesos flood control project scam, a scandal that continues to anger a lot of us.

Prior to Secretary Pangandaman’s plunge into the depth of disgrace, she is, no doubt, one of the most influential in the Marcos Cabinet and “recommending” a member of her clan would be “a walk in the park,” so to speak.

In other words, Tago, by any measure, is a political appointee in a position better reserve for those in the academe.

Significantly, we were told that six days before Mapupuno’s untimely passing, Tago decided to resign from all his BARMM posts—Minister for Transportation and BARMM Parliament Deputy Speaker—telling everyone in hearing distance that he is “moving” to the MSU.

Does he own a “crystal ball” that he is able to “divine” what the future holds for him? Or is that how things go when you have a relative close to the President?

Now, we have nothing personal against the man that we don’t know from any Pedro or Josee. He may indeed be qualified to hold his present exalted post, the “endorsement” of Secretary Amenah and his lack of academic qualification notwithstanding.

We are just here voicing the grievances of MSU students and alumni who are brave enough to express their collective angst over the way Tago has been running their university.

Of course, there are “rumblings” too from the side of the faculty who, we heard, are also “demoralized” over Tago’s alleged intervention in the appointment and promotion of staff and personnel in all the MSU’s eight campuses despite their autonomy.

However, they prefer silence for fear of being singled out, threatened and fired from their posts, a situation that speaks ill of “campus freedom” inside the MSU these days.

Finally, is it also true that Tago has been challenging his detractors to just sue him in court because Malacañang cannot fire him?

As he allegedly claimed, he cannot be fired because the Palace needs his influence and political support in BARMM, especially with the 2028 elections inching around the corner.

Wow, is he more “indispensable” than say, BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua?

On the other hand, does Secretary Amenah Pangandaman still exercises influence behind the scene that she needs to be “consulted first” before the Palace can decide on Tago’s fate?

Is Chancellor Tago’s stay at the MSU a case of political necessity triumphing over academic growth and good governance the way he appears to frame it to be?

Any reaction, Palace Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro?

And of course, any word from Chancellor Tago is most welcome here.