SCHOOL OF Social Sciences (SOSS) Secretary-Treasurer Marvin Lagonera delivered a privilege speech during the Sanggunian Central Board (CB) meeting held on January 24.
The Ateneo Student Judicial Court (SJC) Prosecutor’s Office filed two impeachment complaints against him based on the following counts: Illegal appointments of CB representatives and Executive Officers, and failure to keep the records of the School Board (SB) transparent.
In his speech, Lagonera expressed his dismay towards the SJC Prosecutor’s Office.
“I was disappointed with how the Prosecutor’s Office has allowed itself to be swayed by political interests by a ‘few’ who have never been named until today,” he said.
According to Lagonera, the prosecution, instead of helping the SOSS SB, decided to file the impeachment charges that had “tremendous consequences” for the SOSS Sanggunian officers.
“As the head of the School Board, I could only imagine the impact this impeachment would have on the implementation of projects, the motivation of my officers and our relationships,” Lagonera said.
However, he emphasized that he does not believe that it was ever the goal of the prosecutors “to create spectacles out of Sanggunian officers.”
“On the contrary, I think their role is precisely to guide Sanggunian officers in implementing their platforms of change,” Lagonera said.
“Instead of promoting a culture of distrust, work with us. Tell us where we can improve. The goal should be to avoid impeachment, not promote it,” he added.
Furthermore, Lagonera said that his impeachment trial was a symptom of the Sanggunian officers’ failure to find a collective purpose for the student government.
“The moment we start dreaming bigger than ourselves is when we truly make a difference in society, and not just for ourselves,” he said
Words of advice
Lagonera also addressed those running for office in the 2014 Sanggunian General Elections in his speech.
“My message to those running is to always be critical, not personal nor dismissive. Engage ideas instead of shutting them down. Rally your platforms, not your personality,” he said.
Lagonera added that they should make a personal effort to read up on political theory and philosophy. He also called on them to “open up genuine spaces for encounter.”
“In the words of Pope Francis, ‘a culture of encounter demands that we be ready not only to give, but also to receive,’” he said.
According to him, the Sanggunian’s deepest desire as a student government “is to produce narratives of hope in a deeply broken society.”
“In our search of a more just society, I hope that we accept to be disturbed despite the discomfort and inconvenience, because we choose to be critical, to be small, to be vulnerable, to be powerless, in choosing to serve the marginalized,” Lagonera said.
“I hope that our goal in Sanggunian is not to reproduce our national political landscape; the point is to recreate it.”
