DURING the long Holy Week lull, our attention was drawn to several social media posts from the academic community inside the Mindanao State University (MSU). The MSU was created in 1955 through Republic Act 1387 and opened its main campus in Marawi City in 1962, envisioned as the country’s premier institution of higher learning in Mindanao at par with the University of the Philippines (UP).
The first post, from The Pedon, the official student publication of the College of Agriculture, said the students were “left disappointed” after MSU president and Marawi campus chancellor lawyer Paisalin Pangandaman “Popoy” Tago denied their participation on April 6 in the “Fasmin” (Federation of Agriculture Students in Mindanao) Congress in Tangub City.
The post noted that last year, MSU students attended as “observers,” and they now look forward to actively engaging their peers across Mindanao in various competitions that would test their knowledge and preparations as the country’s future farmers.
The other post comes from the College of Medicine Student Council, whose participation in the APMC (Association of Philippine College of Medicine) Student Network Congress last April 9 at the Dela Salle campus in Cavite was also denied by Tago.
The event is not just another student gathering where participants would just spend their time eating, and laughing and meeting new friends as this congress, like the one their disappointed colleagues from the College of Agriculture failed to attend, also offers various competitions that would test their preparations as the region’s new physicians.
In both incidents, Tago said he was just following Malacañang’s directive, course through the Commission on Higher Education, to cancel all “unnecessary travel” and for all government agencies to observe austerity in view of the crisis we are facing due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
If it is any consolation, we learned that Tago also refused to allow the holding of the MSU alumni homecoming at the MSU Marawi campus during the Holy Week break, also in the name of austerity.
Or is it because he is allegedly not on good terms with one of MSU’s alumni, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong, and who was expected to be present at the event?
To the uninformed, Tago, although both a lawyer and certified public accountant, has no background in academia. Heck, he has not even run a kindergarten or an elementary school his entire life. His resumé said he was the deputy speaker of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament and minister of transportation under the administration of then-acting chief minister Murad Ebrahim.
In other words, he is a Palace political appointee now running the affairs of the country’s second-largest state university system after UP.
Observers argue that while Tago has the discretion to approve or disapprove any activity, his decision to deny MSU agriculture and medicine students the opportunity to test their knowledge by competing against their peers in the country showed how the narrow thinking of a politician can dash the hopes of future generations.
That politics colored his appointment can be attributed to the endorsement of his cousin, former budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who reportedly used her very considerable influence in the Marcos administration on his behalf.
Yes, folks. The same Amenah Pangandaman embroiled in the multitrillion-pesos flood control project scandal who was forced to resign in disgrace last November — before she could be compelled to name other ranking personalities involved in the scam.
Significantly, we were told that six days before MSU president Basari Mapupuno’s untimely passing last May 27, 2025, Tago decided to resign from all his BARMM posts saying he was “moving” to the MSU — as if he had already “divined” what the future held for him. Or is that how things go when you have a relative close to the president?
His departure from BARMM was viewed by some quarters as another case of “perfect timing” considering that the BARMM administration of Murad Ebrahim — and where Tago was a former Cabinet minister — is under scrutiny by the Commission on Audit and Congress.
The scandal involves the region’s questionable P2.2-billion education fund and the P6.6 billion released through the Local Government Support Fund, where a report by Congress recommended the prosecution of all involved.
But with Tago now at the MSU, will his former comrades in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front end up entertaining subpoenas when the cases are filed in court?
Now, we have nothing personal against chancellor Tago. He may indeed be qualified to hold his present exalted post, the “endorsement” of budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman and his lack of academic background notwithstanding.
We are just here voicing the grievances of MSU students and alumni who are brave enough to express their collective angst over the way Tago has been running their university.
Of course, there are “rumblings,” too, from the side of the faculty who, we heard, are also “demoralized” over Tago’s alleged intervention in the appointment and promotion of staff and personnel in all of the MSU’s eight campuses despite their autonomy.
However, they prefer silence for fear of being singled out, threatened and fired from their posts, a situation that speaks ill of “campus freedom” inside the MSU these days.
And if indeed everyone should be in “austerity mode” as ordered by BBM, why is it, sources said, that “repairs” and “renovations” of Marawi campus offices, including his office, the Office of the President, appears to be unending?
Is it also true that everything is being done without a clear “program of work” that has left most observers wondering as to the true cost of every repair and renovation?
Finally, is it also true that Tago has been challenging his detractors to just sue him in court because Malacañang cannot fire him? Because the administration purportedly needs his influence and political support in BARMM, especially with the 2028 elections inching around the corner?
Wow, is he claiming to be more “influential” among our Muslim brothers than, say, BARMM chief minister Abdulraof Macacaua?
On the other hand, does ex-secretary Pangandaman still exercise influence behind the scenes and she needs to be “consulted first” before the Palace can decide on Tago’s fate?
In the meantime, we welcome any reaction and clarification from chancellor Tago.