Pisay wants public to ‘move forward’ from photo-sharing scandal

The management of Philippine Science High School on Wednesday called on the public to "move forward" from reports that several male students had allegedly shared private photos of their female schoolmates online.

"We urge everyone to move forward from this incident and provide the needed support to the students and the PSHS community," Lilia Habacon, PSHS executive director, said in a statement that was read to the media.

"We pray to the media and the public at large to respect the privacy and maintain the dignity of our scholars and not aggravate the issue further which unnecessarily puts those children's future at risk," she added.

PANOORIN: Ang pahayag ni Philippine Science High School-Main Campus Exec. Dir. Lila Habacon kaugnay sa desisyon nilang hindi pagmartsahin sa graduation ang ilang estudyanteng nagpakalat umano ng maselang litrato ng ilan nilang babaeng ka-eskwela. @dzbb pic.twitter.com/7jTteRlPS8

— Glen Juego (@glenjuego) May 29, 2019

Six scholars from PSHS have been barred from marching in their graduation ceremonies following their alleged involvement in the sharing of the private photos.

Three of the scholars may still graduate with a diploma from PSHS. The other three may only be issued a certificate of completion which are still subject to completion of other school requirements.

The Board of Trustees earlier decided to allow the six students to graduate, a move that was in contrast to the recommendation made by the school's discipline committee after a series of hearings.

According to Habacon, the PSHS board had exerted its best efforts in coming up with the decision, adding that the decision must be respected by the public.

"Mahaba ang deliberation kasi hindi lang naman 'yan face to face deliberation. Meron pa ring mga email communications. Mahaba po itong deliberation na ito. It's a lengthy discussion," Habacon said.

'A problem of culture'

Vice President Leni Robredo has denounced the incident as an issue "that goes to the heart of how we, as a society, must act when women are disrespected, demeaned, or abused, particularly when this is passed off as 'boys' having 'harmless fun,' and therefore 'normal' and 'acceptable.'"

"Perhaps we should not be surprised that even in a community of our nation’s brightest young minds, the poor treatment of women, at the hands of even those they trusted as intimates or friends, persists," she said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The problem, after all, is not one of intelligence, but of culture. But if we are to find a way forward, to a society where both women and men can truly have an equal opportunity to be the best we can be, then we must make the conscious, if difficult, choice to change that culture." — BM, GMA News