22/11/2025
๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง | The CatSU Statesman Faces Censorship-by-Denial-of-Recognition
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines โ Bicol strongly condemns the administration of Catanduanes State University for weaponizing bureaucratic processes to obstruct the operations of The CatSU Statesman, the universityโs official tertiary student publication. This deliberate delay constitutes censorship-by-denial-of-recognition and directly violates the campus press freedom guaranteed under the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 (Republic Act 7079).
According to reports, the publication was denied re-accreditation due to delays in the submission of its audited financial report. This requirement depends entirely on the Junior Philippine Institute of AccountantsโCatSU Chapter. Given that the audit process follows JPIAโs own timelines and capacity, the publicationโs recognition has been made contingent on the operations of another student body, placing The CatSU Statesman in a dependent and vulnerable position that undermines its autonomy.
This delay has immobilized the publication for nearly three months. They have been deprived of access to their funds, which has severely restricted their ability to organize activities, conduct on-ground coverage, and respond to urgent editorial duties. Members also report that they are struggling to cover stories and check on their members who were heavily affected by Super Typhoon Uwan. The situation has created conditions that function as a form of administrative suppression of campus journalism.
The CatSU Student Handbook further worsens the problem by imposing requirements on student publications that contradict the provisions of RA 7079. The law states clearly that campus publications must remain independent, with full editorial and fiscal discretion. Administrative offices or student organizations may not interfere with, condition, or control a publicationโs recognition, operations, or access to funds. Furthermore, subscription fees collected from students must be released automatically, and withholding them for bureaucratic compliance violates both the law and the publicationโs rights.
In addition, the JPIAโCatSU Chapter has recently implemented arbitrary audit penalties. They have begun charging a daily penalty of 100 pesos for delayed audits, with no limit or cap, and without authorization from OSADS, the VPAA, or the SUC President. This has already resulted in more than 30,000 pesos in penalties for The CatSU Statesman, creating an undue financial burden and contributing further to the obstruction of their operations.
Despite the publicationโs formal communication to the administration on October 29, addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the situation remains unresolved. Although a promissory arrangement was granted, progress was again stalled because the University President is on travel leave. This has delayed the publicationโs operation even more and reflects the administrationโs lack of urgency and accountability.
CEGP-Bicol asserts that these repeated bureaucratic obstacles are more than administrative lapses. They create a pattern of press freedom violations. By restricting the publicationโs ability to operate, the administration infringes on studentsโ constitutional rights to free expression and access to information. These rights are especially vital at a time when the country faces issues such as corruption in flood control projects and the widespread impact of recent typhoons.
The Guild stands firmly with The CatSU Statesman in resisting censorship, bureaucratic repression, and all policies that hinder the rightful operation of student publications. The CatSU administration must be held accountable for the delays it has caused and for its failure to proactively address long-standing procedural issues.
We call on all student publications, campus journalists, member-publications, and the broader university community to unite in defending campus press freedom, insisting on strict adherence to RA 7079, and rejecting all forms of administrative censorship. An attack on one is an attack on all, and an attack on the truth.
Read more here: https://www.facebook.com/TheCSUStatesman/posts/pfbid02WNaiQrqnJ7FqUNx155sTduNxZ6GpFNSXn4HXDaq4sD4uqEZpCqfuEpMAmAMEF7ytl
