To Restore Trust, Ensure Accountability, and Allow an Independent Investigation

We, the undersigned students, alumni, faculty, and stakeholders of Western Mindanao State University, formally call for the immediate resignation of the current University Student Council (USC) President and Vice President following the release of their official statement regarding the alleged ₱70,000 missing funds controversy.

According to the USC's own explanation, the alleged missing funds were never actually missing but were part of an "integrity test" intended to identify unauthorized disclosures of confidential information. Rather than restoring confidence, this explanation has raised even more serious concerns regarding leadership judgment, ethical decision-making, transparency, and governance.

The issue before the student body is no longer simply whether funds were lost. The issue is whether student leaders acted responsibly when they allegedly allowed a narrative involving missing student funds to circulate as part of an internal operation. Student funds are not personal funds. They belong to the students. Any action that creates confusion or alarm regarding those funds undermines public trust and weakens confidence in student governance.

The official statement attempts to shift attention from the decision to create the controversy toward those who reacted to it. However, students who believed that public funds may have been compromised were responding to information they reasonably understood to be true. The resulting concern was not irrational—it was a predictable consequence of a situation created by the leadership itself.

For this reason, we believe that the continued presence of the current USC President and Vice President in office may compromise the credibility and perceived impartiality of any investigation into the matter. Regardless of the outcome, any inquiry conducted while the principal decision-makers remain in power risks being viewed as influenced, controlled, or constrained by those whose actions are themselves under scrutiny.

Their resignation is therefore not merely a matter of accountability; it is a necessary step toward ensuring public confidence in any fact-finding process.

Stepping down would pave the way for an independent, impartial, and credible investigation free from actual or perceived conflicts of interest. It would allow investigators, university authorities, and the student body to examine the facts without concerns about undue influence, institutional pressure, or interference from the officials directly involved in the controversy.

Resignation should not be viewed as an admission of guilt. Rather, it should be viewed as an act of responsibility and respect for the principles of transparency, accountability, and democratic governance. Public office demands not only integrity but also the appearance of integrity. When public trust has been severely damaged, leaders must place the interests of the institution above their personal positions.

Accordingly, we call for:

1. The immediate resignation of the USC President and Vice President.
2. An independent investigation supervised by appropriate university authorities and students.
3. The public release of complete financial records, receipts, account balances, and expenditure reports.
4. A review of USC governance procedures, financial controls, and accountability mechanisms.
5. The adoption of safeguards to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The credibility of the University Student Council rests not only on the proper management of funds but also on the trust of the students it serves. That trust has been seriously shaken. The most responsible path forward is one that prioritizes truth, transparency, and an independent investigation that the entire university community can regard as fair, impartial, and credible.

For the integrity of student governance and the restoration of public confidence, we respectfully call for the resignation of the USC President and Vice President.