JINGGOY TELLS GRADUATES, STUDENTS: DON’T DO A CUNANAN

MANILA-Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada advised this year’s batch of new graduates as well as working students to not do a Cunanan as they go job hunting and to abstain from inventing personal academic credentials and engineering dubious educational background.

 

In his privilege speech entitled “The Tale of Two Incredible Witnesses” last Wednesday, Sen. Estrada slammed Dennis Cunanan, head of the Technology Resource Center, for lying brazenly about his educational background.

 

In his blog site and many online articles about him, Cunanan made it appear that he graduated from the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) in University of the Philippines – Diliman.

 

“Just to set the educational record of Dennis Cunanan straight, he is not a graduate of the University of the Philippines per the letter of the National College of Public Administration and Governance of UP Diliman in response to our query regarding the academic standing of Mr. Cunanan.  He graduated in 2005 (Commerce) in Lacson College,” Jinggoy said in his speech.

 

This false educational attainment may have led to his employment in various high positions in the government. He was appointed as Executive Director of the National Youth Commission on 2000, as Head Executive Assistant in the Office of the Speaker at the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2004, and as Presidential Assistant for Youth Affairs.

 

“Palagay ko po, kung nalaman na hindi college graduate si Cunanan ay hindi siya malalagay sa mga posisyong ito,” the lawmaker remarked.

 

“Bago napunta ng TRC si Dennis, nahirang muna siyang Executive Director ng Commission on Higher Education ng isang buwan at tinanggal dahil walang college degree at hindi nga qualified. Nguni’t sadyang malakas ang backer ni Dennis dahil na-appoint naman siya kaagad bilang TLRC/TRC deputy director general noong December 2004. At taong 2010 naman siya naging TRC director general,” Jinggoy added.

 

“The career of Mr. Cunanan from his days in college to his days in public office, and reaching up to his testimony in the Blue Ribbon Committee has been founded and grounded on falsehoods and misrepresentation!” Jinggoy said in his speech.

 

Sen. Estrada thus tells the graduates and young workers to be truthful as they draft their resumes and not make false claims about their educational achievements and capacities, like what Cunanan did. He also warned against misrepresentation and mere reliance on backers and patrons in applying for work, as he underscored that continued self-enhancement, further studies, skills upgrading and integrity as potent factors to make one competitive and desirable in the job market.