The University Digest

Papa, Papang, Amah, Tay—whatever you call him, he is the reason you stand tall today.

This Fathers’ Day, we commend every person who carried the weight of fatherhood: biological fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and everyone who stepped up and chose to be a father when they didn’t have to. We see every effort, silent struggle, and sacrifice. You kept the light in our home steady when it flickered, and made sure no one noticed. But we did, and we are forever grateful for that.

To all fathers, The University Digest wishes you a 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔’ 𝑫𝒂𝒚!

Because of you, we stand tall. And today, we shall honor you.

Words by Areej Mishaal Ahadi
Layout by Rafael Sebastien Pastrano

𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫

During campaign season, they were impossible to miss. The now USC President Alexa Murillo and Vice President Nurkisa Asanji once spoke of transparency, of service, of mandates, and of a student government that would listen. They asked for the microphone, and the student body gave it to them. They asked for the vote, and the student body gave that too. They asked for trust, and in good faith, those were given with a confidence that showed in numbers.

But that period of flashy campaigns has long passed.

Between June 11 and June 19, 2026 (eight days), the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) student body watched the council unravel as reports of a missing Php 70,000 from the USC vault were deliberately leaked to the student body as bait to identify internal information leaks. When students learned of this masterplan, they were understandably alarmed, confused, and most of all, were left feeling betrayed. This supposed investigation of the USC raised more questions than answers, and left the student body more anxious rather than secure.

In the uproar, the student body demanded answers. Organizations released statements, and College Student Councils called for transparency as senators resigned. Their official statement had Crimsons wanting to validate their claims. If what they claim is true, then the students wanted proof; they wanted a real show of accountability.

And so the clock kept ticking, and everyone kept waiting. A forum was organized and a microphone prepared, all so the USC president and vice president could do the one thing they spent an entire campaign season doing effortlessly: to show up and speak.

Yet when the hour came, students were met with nothing. Another broken promise, another tarnished reputation.

The irony is not lost on anyone. These are the same people who had the energy to orchestrate an entire internal security measure, to set a trap and hunt a mole inside their ranks. They had enough bandwidth for a strategy, yet for a forum and a live verification, there was only silence. A peculiar kind of silence; not the silence of someone gathering their thoughts. It was and still continues to be the silence of an administration that has not yet decided whether the students it represents are worth the trouble of a response. And the two people most responsible for the crisis that started all of this have offered nothing for eight whole days.

This raises a question far more uncomfortable than the one about the missing money: where exactly does their loyalty lie? Where is the service they swore to render? Because the student body is not a crowd to be mobilized during elections and managed into silence afterward. It is not simply an audience for campaign speeches, becoming a “problem” when it starts seeking answers. It is, in fact, the entire point that those seats exist, and the very reason those titles mean anything at all.

Maybe a proper statement may still come. It may even arrive tomorrow. Wow, sana all. It may be released only after the pressure becomes too heavy to ignore. But accountability that only appears when their lack of a response fails to quiet the constant knocking on the door is barely even accountability, moreso a desperate attempt to ask for leeway.

Withholding an audience until the issue dies down will only further Crimsons’ pressuring calls for answers. The clock has already struck. The cuckoo is already chiming. So how long do they intend to make students wait for their explanations?

The organizations have spoken. The resignations have spoken. The absence spoke louder than any debate and any campaign promise ever can. The question is no longer whether the lost Php 70,000 was real or where it was, even. The question now becomes whether the loudest voices in the room only ever knew how to speak when the room was working in their favor.

Words by Justine Gay Jacinto and Kristina Catherine Galvez
Artwork by Joshua Xyrille Bañez

The Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) University Student Council (USC) campus fund controversy is rooted from the allegations regarding an alleged ₱70,000 discrepancy in USC budget circulated online. The Crimson community raised their voices and stood their stances, prompting calls for clarification, transparency, and accountability from the student leaders of the said council.

The University Digest presents a timeline that traces the key episodes of the issue based on verified events, official statements, public broadcasts, and documented actions released by the various university sectors and concerned parties.

Words by Krisha Kate Go and Izra Chrix Sheldon Jimeno
Layout by Ayanna Angga and Ahlamayesa Mangkabong

𝐖𝐌𝐒𝐔 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐒𝐂 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) local organizations, College Student Councils (CSCs), and individual council senators, have broken their silence and released official statements calling out the lack of transparency, the misuse of student funds, and the urgent need for accountability from the University Student Council (USC).

The number of organizations that have spoken out reflects the scale of concern across the student body, following the controversy surrounding the alleged missing Php 70,000, later revealed to be a deliberate leak orchestrated by the USC President and Vice President as an “internal security measure.” The incident raised concerns over the USC’s financial transparency and the management of student funds.

In the following days, members of the Council even began to step down from their positions, such as former Senate President Mickey Mc Jones Leong, who resigned after the student regents failed to meet with them for the live verification of USC funds last June 15.

Below is a compilation of official statements from some of many more local organizations, CSCs, and individual senators.

Student Organizations:
WMSU Law Students Association
Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers Student Chapter – WMSU
WMSU - Political Science Society
Junior Public Administration Association, INC.

College Student Councils:
College of Liberal Arts - CSC
College of Engineering - CSC
College of Science and Mathematics - CSC
College of Agriculture - CSC
College of Computing Studies - CSC
College of Asian and Islamic Studies - CSC
College of Public Administration and Development Studies - CSC
College of Forestry and Environmental Studies - CSC
College of Home Economics - CSC
College of Teacher Education - CSC

Political Parties:
ALAB Party
LEAD Party
SIBOL Party
United Students Party

Individual Senators:
Nica Hannah F. Seño - College of Nursing Senator
Lyster Lloyd L. Maliao - College of Engineering Senator
Anne Claire Blaya - College of Forestry and Environmental Sciences Senator

From organizations and councils to individual senators, each has taken the step to formally put their position on record. As of writing, the student body has yet to receive an official response issued by the USC President addressing the collective calls for transparency and accountability.

Words by Justine Gay Jacinto and Kristina Catherine Galvez
Layout by Ahlamayesa Mangkabong

Amid ongoing concerns surrounding the University Student Council, the former Senate President went live to answer questions from students and clarify the Senate’s position on key issues. The discussion covered proposed investigations, financial accountability, constitutional commissions, and other pressing concerns.

Following the resignation of the Senate President yesterday, the Senate has since undergone reorganization and now operates under new leadership.

Words by Suzane De Leon
Photos by Alsharid Dela Cruz
Layout by Axelcris Suladay and Ahlamayesa Mangkabong

LOOK: In Suysuy posts a statement on the discontinued live broadcast with USC execs yesterday

𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍: 𝐔𝐒𝐂 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

WMSU University Student Council (USC) President Alexa Murillo stated that the formal investigation and verification of the financial matters are handled by the university administration, which is currently in progress, hence the cancellation of the said livestream through In SuySuy's page, the official political commentary of WMSU.

According to Murillo, the interview regarding the ongoing funds issue will no longer push through, citing the absence of a formal letter request.

Meanwhile, the USC Senate President Hon. Mickey Mc Jones Leong has resigned following the announcement and cancellation of the meeting and interview.

This is a developing story.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐜-𝐀-𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐞

“Saan napunta ang ₱70,000?”

A Crimson asked through a Facebook post, pertaining to an alleged loss of student funds from the Western Mindanao State University’s Student Council’s (WMSU-USC) office vault. The post was only one among the many rumors about the incident circulating online, with some exposing how the missing funds were actually more than what was disclosed, and that members of the Council were asked for contributions to cover up the money lost. While there were no official statements to verify the claims at that time, many students have already pointed out the USC’s lack of financial transparency, which kept the student body in the dark about their money’s whereabouts, and demanded an explanation from the council’s executive officials themselves.

In an attempt to address the piling concerns, USC President Alexa Marie T. Murillo released an official statement on June 13, 2026 through the WMSU-USC’s online gazette. In her report, she clarified that “no council funds have been lost, stolen, misappropriated, or gone missing.” Apparently, a total of ₱110,000 remain intact under the president’s custody, yet there were no financial audits or records provided to support it.

The big question was, where did the rumor of a missing ₱70,000 from their vault come from? Murillo, through the same post, explained that the report of the alleged disappearance was part of an “internal security measure” she conducted together with the vice president. The “controlled” leak of the news, according to her, was implemented with the intention of testing whether confidential internal matters were being improperly disclosed, identifying potential unauthorized sources of information leaks, evaluating the discretion and accountability expected of student government officers, and strengthening internal safeguards to protect the integrity of Council operations.

However, instead of the “missing student funds” issue serving as bait to catch the Council’s mole, the Crimson community saw it as an irresponsible move, one that is unexpected from the university’s highest-ranking student officers. Compromising the Council’s credibility at the expense of exposing untrustworthy individuals amongst their circle defames the very principles the Council is deemed to uphold.

Murillo’s official video statement did not help either, as it only exacerbated the already questionable justification of her and her VP’s decisions. Despite painting a context of the problem and explaining the thought process behind the plan, Crimsons were left with more questions than answers. The presentation of envelopes containing the ₱110,000 student funds should have been a key piece of evidence to expel the students’ worries, yet it didn’t even scratch the surface of the issue nor provided any sense of relief. Instead, it only displayed the lack of sufficient financial safeguards for the enormous amount of money every WMSU student contributed to.

Not only did the careless “whac-a-mole” plan backfire, but it also cultivated unnecessary confusion and concern from the student body, especially due to the newly-established fear that the ₱200 they entrusted to the Council may not be safe after all.

The ₱200 USC fee collected every semester carries greater significance than many realize. For many students, it comes from parents who work tirelessly to sustain their children's education. For others, it is drawn from their own earnings as they balance academic responsibilities with the financial demands of daily life. As such, there is a reasonable expectation that every peso is directed toward visible, meaningful, and accountable projects, services, and improvements that benefit the student body.

Given this, it is understandable that students would be alarmed by a cryptic online post suggesting that a portion of these funds had gone missing. When information of this nature emerges, even if later described as "unverified," concern is a natural response. Students have every right to seek clarification regarding the management of funds entrusted to their representatives, especially when the absence of timely information only encourages speculation and uncertainty.

While it has since been stated that no funds were actually lost, a more important question remains, was it right to use concerns regarding student funds as part of an internal strategy? Turning concerns about student money into a strategy for catching "moles" and "snitches" diminish the seriousness of financial accountability and undermines confidence in student governance. These resources should never be treated as props in an effort to expose information leaks. Doing so creates the impression that matters involving financial accountability can be employed as tactical tools in internal disputes. It suggests that students' legitimate concerns about their money may be treated as secondary to other organizational objectives.

This issue goes beyond just the question of whether money was lost. If university student leaders indeed spread information about missing funds merely to identify who was leaking information within their ranks, then the issue becomes something deeper: the misuse of public trust, incompetence, and hasty decision making. Student funds are resources entrusted to the council for the benefit of the student body, and any matter involving them deserves transparency, responsibility, and the utmost seriousness.

If the alleged “internal security measure” was true, then it raises an even more uncomfortable implication: that there is already a perceived or existing breakdown of trust within the very institution tasked to represent the student body. While internal security and confidentiality are legitimate concerns in any institution, resorting to deception involving student funds as bait reflects fragility. It suggests a governing body that may not fully trust its own mechanisms, officers, or communication channels.

More importantly, it raises a fundamental question: if trust within the Council itself is so fractured that it requires staged financial panic to test loyalty, then how can the student body be expected to trust it with actual financial stewardship?

The issue becomes even more troubling when viewed alongside the USC President’s own public statements, particularly her expressed anger over the backlash received by her officers and her intent to file a “legal case” against what she described as “bashers.” While harassment and baseless attacks on individuals are never acceptable, it is also important to examine the chain of events that led to such public reaction in the first place.

The narrative surrounding missing student funds did not emerge in a vacuum. It was introduced into the public sphere through the Council’s own communication channels that ultimately triggered the very scrutiny and outrage that followed.

In this sense, the resulting backlash was not an unforeseen accident, but a foreseeable consequence of introducing alarm into an already trust-sensitive environment. Leadership carries not only the authority to act, but the responsibility to anticipate the impact of those actions. If reputational harm to officers was a concern, then it becomes difficult to justify the decision to proceed with a strategy that knowingly placed them at the center of public suspicion.

Was it appropriate to expose officers—and by extension, the credibility of the entire Council—to public doubt in pursuit of identifying an internal leak? When leaders choose a course of action that predictably endangers the reputation of their own members, accountability cannot be shifted solely to public reaction afterward. The responsibility begins with the decision to create the conditions for that reaction.

Perhaps the most troubling consequence of this incident is the erosion of trust. Confidence, once shaken, is difficult to rebuild. Students who were alarmed by reports of missing funds may now wonder whether future statements concerning finances are entirely reliable.

This incident also revives questions that have existed long before the controversy emerged. During the 2025 USC Debate, the current administration promised the student body that financial reports would be provided in the name of transparency, as the previous administration failed to do so. Yet many continue to ask: Where are these reports? If transparency remains a priority, why has the student body not been provided with comprehensive and accessible financial updates?

Likewise, questions regarding financial systems deserve careful consideration. What safeguards currently exist to protect student funds? Why are funds reportedly kept under the custody of individual officers rather than through more institutionalized mechanisms? Would establishing formal banking arrangements and providing financial management training for student leaders improve accountability and public confidence?

The Council's clarification may have, at some point, settled concerns about the missing money, but it has not settled concerns about governance. Moving forward, the challenge facing the USC is not merely proving that funds are safe. It is proving that the trust placed in them by students is equally secure.

Student leaders are entrusted not only with money, programs, and policies. They are entrusted with confidence. And confidence should never be treated as something to be tested—it should be treated as something to be earned.

Words by Ma. Kristhina Ho, Thea Sophia Bueno, and Ken Vinzel Dellava
Artwork by Maria Angela Manalo

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Over 128 years ago, the Philippines celebrated its independence from Spanish Colonization after 333 years.

The nation’s freedom was not won solely through battles, uprisings, and revolutions, for it was won through love—one that runs so deep into the bones of our ancestors that it hardened them enough to resist and stand against oppression.

On the 128th anniversary of Philippine Independence, we commemorate not only the courage of the Filipinos who fought before us, but also the love that they poured into the struggle for freedom.

Minsan, nakaliligtaan natin na ang kasaysayan ay hindi lamang binubuo ng pag-aalsa, himagsikan, at tapang. Ang pundasyon ng kalayaan ng bansa at ng mga Pilipino ay nakaugat sa pagmamahal sa bayang inangkin, sa sambayanang nilapastangan, at sa progresibo at malayang bansang minsan na nilang inasam na matamasa.

Dahil ang pag-ibig ay mapagpalaya, ang ibigin ka ay pakikibaka.

𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒓𝒂𝒘 𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒂𝒏, 𝑷𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒔!

Words by Jarrah Gwyneth Clavejo
Artwork by Areej Hussin and Joshua Xyrille Bañez
Layout by Ahlamayesa Mangkabong

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 '𝟐𝟔 𝐖𝐌𝐒𝐔-𝐄𝐒𝐔 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐲

Dressed in red togas and wearing their proudest smiles, graduates of Western Mindanao State University- External Studies Unit (WMSU-ESU) marked the culmination of years of academic pursuit during the 81st Commencement Exercises held on June 9, 2026, at the Provincial Capitol Gymnasium in Zamboanga Sibugay.

With the theme “WMSU Graduates: Transforming Excellence, Advancing Innovation, and Shaping a Smarter Future for Global Impact,” the ceremony recognized the graduates’ successful completion of their degree programs and their readiness to enter their respective professions.

The ceremony began with the academic procession of graduates, faculty members, and university officials. Then, Dr. Byron B. Go Silk, ESU Dean, formally recommended the graduates for the conferment of their respective degrees. Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena, WMSU President, then formally recognized the candidates and acknowledged their successful completion of the academic requirements for their graduate degrees.

Thereafter, WMSU President Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena introduced Hon. Judge Marlo C. Bancoro, Representative of the First District of Zamboanga Sibugay, as the guest speaker of the event. In his address, Bancoro underscored the transformative power of education, encouraging graduates to continue striving despite life's challenges. Drawing from his personal experience, he shared that he also came from humble beginnings but, through education, earned his place in the community as a public servant.

Bancoro likewise emphasized the importance of making education accessible to every family, urging communities to prioritize the schooling of at least one family member as a means of fostering progress and creating opportunities for future generations. Furthermore, representing the batch, Neca R. Dolar delivered her valedictory speech, reflecting on the challenges they had overcome and underscoring the value of perseverance in achieving their academic goals.

The graduates then recited the Pledge of Loyalty, reaffirming their commitment to uphold the ideals and values of the university. They also took the Alumni Oath, formally joining the community of Western Mindanao State University alumni.

The event concluded with a batch performance featuring the graduates alongside faculty members and university officials, bringing the commencement exercises to a celebratory close.

Words by Clowielene Merecido
Photos by Prince Frederick Pajo and Bonie Dave Siarot
Photos post-processed by Alsharid Dela Cruz