By Daxim Lucas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan submitted Friday his “irrevocable resignation†as chair of the Ateneo de Manila University’s board of trustees, according to a statement issued by the school.
At the same time, the philanthropist and sports patron also gave up the honorary doctorate that the university conferred on him late last month, in an effort to end the controversy triggered by his recent graduation speeches at the Ateneo, portions of which were found to have been lifted from commencement addresses of prominent foreign personalities.
“Circumstances have continued to the point where [this issue] is creating division within the university,†the Ateneo statement quoted Pangilinan as saying in a letter to the school’s president, Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J.
“I have no desire to see this happen, or be an accessory to it,†he went on. “In that light and all things considered, it is best that I stand firm in my decision to retire, and reiterate this wish in my earlier note to you on 3rd April 2010.â€
In an interview with the Inquirer on Thursday night, Pangilinan said he had yet to decide whether he would accept the Ateneo board’s request for him to stay on as board chair.
100 signatories
Earlier on Thursday, a group of Ateneo faculty, administrators and staff circulated a manifesto objecting to the unanimous decision of the remaining 14 board members to reject Pangilinan’s earlier offer of retirement.
From the initial 66 signatories, the number had grown to 100 as of Friday afternoon, out of the university’s estimated 700-strong faculty corps.
“Please take this letter as confirmation of my resignation from the board of trustees of the Ateneo with immediate effect,†Pangilinan said in his letter to Nebres.
“Further, for the sake of completeness and of good order, I am relinquishing the honorary degree which the university bestowed on me on 26th March,†he said.
According to the Ateneo, the tycoon ended his letter with the hope “that the subject controversy develops closure soon.â€
“I am indeed grateful to the board and to you for the kind words of support,†he told Nebres.
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Topic: Manny Pangilinan Leaves Ateneo de Manila Board (Read 811 times)