Ateneo: SC ruling on plagiarism contradicts 'code of integrity'

(Updated 2:03 p.m.) The Ateneo de Manila University's (ADMU) Loyola Schools said the recent Supreme Court ruling on the plagiarism case of one of its justices "contradicts" ADMU's "code of integrity." In a memorandum issued on Thursday, Loyola Schools vice-president John Paul Vergara reminded Ateneo students that in treating plagiarism cases, the university will still follow its own Code of Academic Integrity, and not the Supreme Court's recent ruling. On October 12, the Supreme Court cleared Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo from accusations of plagiarism regarding his ruling on World War II comfort women. The court said there was "no malicious intent" in the accidental deletion of footnotes and attribution marks in the ruling. Thus, no plagiarism was committed. However,the Ateneo said its Loyola Schools Code of Academic Integrity identifies plagiarism "not through intent but through the act itself." "The objective act of falsely attributing to one's self what is not one's work, whether intentional or out of neglect, is sufficient to conclude that plagiarism has occurred," Ateneo said. "Students who plead ignorance or appeal to lack of malice are not excused," it said. The memo added that academic integrity goes beyond the proper use of attribution marks when using someone else's works as one's own. Rather, academic honesty is "a question of personal discipline and moral character," the Ateneo said. The Ateneo Law School has not yet released a statement on the matter. Del Castillo earned his law degree from the Ateneo School of Law. Del Castillo's legal researcher who was allegedly responsible for the controversial ruling is also an Ateneo alumna. Journalist Carlos Conde of the investigative publication "Newsbreak" in October claimed that Del Castillo's legal researcher aas Michelle Ann U. Juan, a former Ateneo School of Law professor, an alumna of the same law school, and a Bar topnotcher. According to Newsbreak, Del Castillo's lawyer, retired Court of Appeals Justice Hector Hofilena, declined their request to interview Juan. The Newsbreak report could not be independently confirmed. GMANews.TV tried to contact Juan but Del Castillo's staff said she is out of the office, because the justices are on recess until November 16. UP Law A week after the release of the decision exonerating Del Castillo, the court ordered 37 University of the Philippines law professors to explain why they should not be disciplined for calling for Del Castillo's resignation while the court was still deliberating on the plagiarism issue. The court said the Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers prohibits the airing of public statements that tend to influence public opinion while a case is pending. The UP law has dubbed the court's "show cause" order as a move to curtail academic freedom. The leadership of the UP DIliman campus in Quezon City also criticized the court for issuing the order. The Ateneo Loyola Schools' memo did not mention anything about the show UP-Diliman's executive committee also said "lack of malice or intent" in lifting someone else's work without the proper attribution is inexcusable. "As educators, scholars and researchers, our worth is measured by the integrity, excellence and discipline we bring to our work. Plagiarism undermines that integrity and destroys the value of scholarship," the committee said. MVP fiasco This is the second time the Ateneo dealt with a high-profile controversy concerning plagiarism — the first being business tycoon Manuel Pangilinan's graduation speech to to the graduating class of 2010. Pangilinan had admitted to borrowing" from other graduation speeches such as those of US president Barack Obama, author J.K. Rowling, and television personalities Oprah Winfrey and Conan O’Brien He later resigned as chairperson of the Ateneo Board of Trustees, but the board rejected his resignation offer. Contrary to the position on the Supreme Court's ruling, the board said that while it took plagiarism seriously, “the plagiarism happened without full awareness on the part of Mr. Pangilinan." Pangilinan, however, said his decision to step down was final. – VVP/RSJ, GMANews.TV