UP-NCPAG condemns Solis' plagiarism

The University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) community condemned “in no uncertain terms” Wednesday the act of plagiarism committed by one of its students, Mark Joseph Solis.

In a statement, UP-NCPAG said while the act of plagiarism was committed outside the jurisdiction of the university, the academic institution feels compelled to speak up regarding the matter.

It said this is “in support and defense of the virtue of intellectual honesty ad integrity that is paramount and non-negotiable under any circumstance in a community of scholars and public servants committed to moral and intellectual leadership.”

Solis is currently enrolled under the Master of Public Administration program. He joined and won the top prize in the “Smiles for the World” photo competition sponsored by the Chilean embassy using a photograph taken by social entrepreneur Gregory John Smith.

Reports have it that Solis also submitted photographs owned by other people to other photo competitions.

In a television report, Solis admitted that he submitted another photo that was not his own for a contest sponsored by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) in 2011.

In a statement posted Tuesday on the agency's website, Atty. Jomer Aquino of the OPAPP Legal and Security Unit said that OPAPP is already conducting its own investigation to determine whether Solis also plagiarized the photo he submitted to win the contest.

UP-NCPAG said a fact-finding committee consisting of faculty members and student representatives was formed on September 23 following the discovery of the deception.

The committee, tasked to study Solis' case based on the UP Diliman Student Code of Conduct, is expected to come out with a report and recommendation on what the College should do.

UP-NCPAG said Solis has already apologized to the College and volunteered to subject himself to the investigation being conducted.

“We share the indignation of many people who find the actions of Mr. Solis profoundly deplorable. Let us allow due process to take its complete course,” it said.

Solis has also issued an apology to Smith and volunteered to return the award and prize money. In his letter, he said his youth, inexperience and "inability to see the repercussions" of his actions, as well as the prize money and the chance to go abroad, led to what he called his "regrettable lapse [in] my judgment".

In an interview with GMA News aired Tuesday, Solis said he committed plagiarism due to financial troubles.

In a separate statement, UP President Alfredo Pascual said he is saddened that a UP student committed fraud “by submitting someone else's photograph and claiming it as his own work.”

He said he has been closely monitoring the issue over the past few days.

“Mark Solis not only violated the spirit of Calidad Humana, but also showed a disregard for Gregory Smith and other photographers who work hard to capture and produce beautiful images to support their causes and livelihood,” he said.

He added that while Solis' acts may have been performed outside academic work, “these blemish the image of UP as an academic institution which holds dearly the values of honor and excellence.”

Pascual assured the public that the UP administration is treating the matter very seriously with the creation of the fact-finding committee.

“I share the outrage felt by everyone,” he said.

He added that the committee will establish the circumstances and chronology of events as well as the digital footprints related to the issue, and to recommend measures to be undertaken to ensure that justice is served.

Pascual, on the other hand, appeal for calm while the issue is being investigated.

“While stones have been cast in indignation, the apology has been made public. I calll on the UP community to allow the processes of the University to take its course. We shall follow due process, even as we remain just and humane,” he said.

The Embassy of Chile has already stripped Solis of his award. It has also revoked the prizes given to him. Solis was originally awarded with a $1,000 cash prize and a free trip to Chile and Brazil.

In a statement posted online, the embassy said it will soon announce a new set of winners "after due evaluation." — Amita Legaspi/BM, GMA News