USTAAI head says he cannot unilaterally revoke Mocha Uson award, emergency meeting set

The UST Alumni Association Inc. (USTAAI) will hold an emergency meeting after it received backlash for giving Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson the "Thomasian Alumni Award for Government Service."

In an interview on Unang Balita on Tuesday, USTAAI president Henry Tenedero said he cannot unilaterally revoke the award as the board of alumni has to convene in an the emergency meeting that will be called within this week.

"Inaayos lang 'yung schedule but definitely within two days time magkakaroon kami ng emergency meeting at lahat 'yan ay tatalakayin kasi hindi ko puwedeng unilaterally i-revoke dahil I have to respect 'yung board," Tenedero said.

"Pero ang one thing na puwede kong sabihin we have a listening board, listening with heart, ears and mind na kung ano man ang maging pasya ng board ay susundin," he added.

Former and current students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST),  as well as its official publication The Varsitarian, have criticized the alumni association's decision to give the award to Uson.

There are also calls for the USTAAI officials' resignation.

Tenedero said the alumni association's officials would be willing to resign.

"Ung kailangan kami ay magbitiw, walang problema 'yon sapagkat ang pagiging voluntary namin sa UST alumni, wala namang sweldo 'yan eh," he said.

"Pero almost every month, meron kaming four major activities, hindi kami funded ng administration kasi ang USTAAI ay independent. So base sa aming mga aktibidades ay kumukuha kami ng mga supporter because 'yung una pa lang, we made it sure na ang ating call ng ating alumni association ay hindi lang maging social cloud," he added.

The UST management had clarified that the USTAAI is a separate entity from the university.

"The UST Alumni Association Inc. (UAAI) is a corporation distinct and separate from UST. It has its own board of trustees and operates independently...The University does not interfere with the affairs of UAAI or any of its alumni organizations," the university statement read.

Uson, meanwhile, remained unnerved by the online bashing she had been receiving since receiving the alumni association's award.

"Sa mga bashers, mag-enjoy lang kayo. Hindi naman kayo pinapakialaman ng administrasyon ano man ang pinagsasabi niyo dahil 'yan ang demokrasya. Enjoy your freedom of expression/speech," Uson said. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/ALG, GMA News