DISABLED ang comment box ng Instagram ni Daniel Matsunaga, partikular sa post niya nang gawaran siya ng Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) ng Brethen Evangelical School of Theology.
Ito ay makaraang mag-react ang Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) sa nasabing conferment sa kanya.
Mababasa pa rin ang post ni Daniel at video clip na naka-toga siya at nagpapasalamat sa Doctorate Degree in Humanity Major in Social Work na ipinagkaloob sa kanya ng eskuwelahan—pero hindi na makapag-comment ang followers niya.
“I am very honored to be the recipient of such an amazing award. I just want to thank God for everything He has done in my life... also to the executives for believing and trusting me with such a big award. To my family who has always been there, no matter what the situation, or how big my problems were, they never left me alone. To God be all the Glory always!!! #blessed #DoctorMatsunaga.”
Makalipas ang ilang araw, nag-issue ng press release ang CHEd tungkol sa usapin at iginiit na hindi kinikilala ng komisyon ang honorary doctorate degree na iginawad sa aktor dahil walang permit ang nasabing paaralan upang magkaloob ng honoris causa sa sinuman.
“The awarding of honoris causa to individuals by BEST violated the policies and guidelines set forth under CHEd Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 19, series of 2014 or the ‘Enhanced Policies and Guidelines on the Conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)’.
“The CMO stipulates that only HEIs that existed for at least 25 years and possess a well-acknowledged academic reputation, institutional values and mission, among others, can confer honorary doctorate degrees.
“The public is hereby advised that the awarding of an Honorary Doctorate Degree or Honoris Causa by Brethen Evangelical School of Theology to any person will not be recognized by the Commission on Higher Education.
Wala pa ring opisyal na pahayag si Daniel kaugnay ng isyu habang isinusulat ang balitang ito.
-NITZ MIRALLES