Parents, faculty members and students of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Kabacan, North Cotabato, united under a common organization called USM Multi-stakeholders/sectors Movement for Truth and Justice (USMMMTJ) held a mass rally to demand the replacement of USM President Jesus Antonio G. Derije yesterday, January 14. The rallyists come from various parts of North Cotabato and the neighboring other provinces. The rally was triggered by the reappointment of Dr. Jesus Antonio G. Derije as President of the University for another 4-year term effective January 8, 2013.
Notwithstanding multiple cases filed and pending for prosecution in the Department of Justice (DOJ), Ombudsman and other courts against Derije, he was extended reappointment by the Board of Regents of USM on their meeting of January 4, 2013 at Metro Manila. Derije violated on about three (3) counts the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Law as charged before the DOJ by the Watch-North Cotabato involving several millions of pesos. He was also criminally accused by Blang Waguia, et al before the Ombudsman, Davao City for another violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Law. Likewise, Derije illegally leased vast irrigated rice-lands for more than ten (10) million pesos to a private individual without the approval of the BOR. He cut trees in USM without the permission of the BOR and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Grant-in-Aid scholarships intended for the poor but deserving members of the cultural communities were diverted in favour of the wealthy and members of the cultural majority (the settlers). The usual 500 slots Grant-in-Aid scholarships every year was reduced to only 250. It was distributed under bata-bata system among his favourite subordinates.
During the deliberation for his reappointment, the faculty regent, Hon. Ronald Pascual was sent out, rebuked with threat of being accused in court if he disobeys. The Honorable Student Regent was offered a free roundtrip travel abroad with best accommodation by the group of Derije but the latter rejected it.
The rallyists are led by Dr.Alimen W. Sencil on the Bangsamoro-Muslim faculty side. The side of the Christians are led by Dr. William Dela Torre. Parents and students reinforced these mentors. Among the placards carried by the crowd contained words such as: “Under Derije, no more rice products.”, “Under Derije, no more poultry products”, Under Derije, Muslims are second class citizens”, Under Derije, fund 101 is illegally diverted”, Under Derije, fund 164 is illegally diverted”, “Under Derije, dishonesty is his best policy”, “BOR alisin mo si Derije”, “Under Derije, rice-lands are illegally leased”, “Derije is the giant land crocodile in USM”, and numerous other more.
While the rally was on going, the men of Derije according to a reliable informant who refused to be named said: they prepared and positioned a truck load of metal “bastons” or “batutas” wrapped with papers on stand-by just north-west of the rally site waiting for some moments for used against the rallyists.
http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3040:mass-rally-versus-usm-president-held&catid=31:general&Itemid=41
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