|
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Espinoza: Frat-related killings
By Elias L. Espinoza
DECEIT? The Web- ster‘s dictionary defines deception as the act or practice of deceiving or misleading. Simply said, a person does something different from what he said or promised.
Marilou was a victim of deception. After reading an advertisement for a scholarship in a local school, she applied and passed the exam. She was notified for the start of the classes but it was postponed twice.
Since the classes start from 1 p.m. till 10 p.m., Marilou had to apply for a leave of absence from her work. After about a week of classes, she and the other students were given a contract for them to sign.
I was totally surprised when I read the contract. The terms and conditions embodied in the contract don’t specify a grant for a transcription scholarship, but a loan from another company (not the school), as the alleged fund provider for the scholars who will pay the tuition directly to the school. The total amount of the loan is a little over P71,000.
Marilou said that when the school official briefed her and the other students after passing the entrance exam for the scholarship, they were clearly told that the study was free of any obligation but they are required to work for two years with the school after finishing the course.
One of the terms in the contract is that when a student or scholar leaves the school after one week, he or she will be required to pay the tuition computed for the week’s study.
Since the contract was not only onerous, but also a departure from the school officials’ promise to Marilou and her classmates, she did not sign it. When pressed to sign the contract, she had the word “loan” replaced with “grant.”
When the school management discovered the change, Marilou was confronted and told that they would not accept the contract as corrected. After this incident, Marilou was given almost impossible conditions that prompted her to quit instead.
Which among the government agencies supervises and imposes regulations and sanctions with this kind of school? I am sure Marilou is not the only victim. There are other persons who were similarly situated as Marilou but remained silent about it.
From the foregoing backdrop, there is strong indication that what the officials of the school did constitutes deception, which is a culpable act defined and penalized by our criminal laws.
Since this is a personal action, it is for Marilou, though, if she wishes to institute the appropriate legal action against the school officials or their representatives. This is also a wake-up call for the officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) here.
BREAKDOWN. The recent spate of killings related to fraternity is a strong indication of a breakdown in our peace and order. Worse, the killings happened during the election season when the carrying of firearms is prohibited.
About two days after the shooting to death of Douglas Salvador Jr., a member of Tau Gamma, by PO1 Glendale Cabañero, a certain Alfredo Dawaton was shot dead by Mark Valdes over money matters.
The police, despite the multicabs that the City of Cebu had provided for their mobility, still failed to contain criminal activities. Is this an ominous sign that criminals no longer fear the presence of the police?
You know, gone are the days when policemen in uniform were revered by law-abiding citizens and feared by the lawless elements in our society. The tainted image of the police must have been the reason.
My apologies, but we’re probably the only country in Asia where the policemen are, in most instances, involved in criminal activities like kidnapping, murder and bank robberies.
With this kind of image our police have, we cannot expect reverence or obedience from the citizenry. It is a long way before this government can cleanse the PNP of scalawags and misfits.
(April 15, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
