In what it described as “censorship-by-denial-of-recognition,” the College Editors Guild of the Philippines has issued a statement strongly condemning the administration of Catanduanes State University for weaponizing bureaucratic processes to obstruct the operations of The CatSU Statesman, the university’s official tertiary student publication.
“This deliberate delay constitutes censorship-by-denial-of-recognition and directly violates the campus press freedom guaranteed under the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 (Republic Act 7079),” it said in a statement issued on social media last Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
Citing reports, CEGP Bicol stated that the CatSU publication was denied re-accreditation due to delays in the submission of its audited financial report, with the requirement depending entirely on the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants–CatSU Chapter based on its own timelines and capacity.
With the publication’s recognition made contingent on the operations of another student body, the guild said this has placed the CatSU Statesman in a dependent and vulnerable position that undermines its autonomy.
The delay has immobilized the publication for nearly three months, it added, depriving the publication of access to their funds and severely restricting their ability to organize activities, conduct on-ground coverage, and respond to urgent editorial duties.
The group likewise scored the CatSU Student Handbook for imposing requirements on student publications that contradict the provisions of RA 7079, which clearly states that campus publications must remain independent, with full editorial and fiscal discretion.
“Administrative offices or student organizations may not interfere with, condition, or control a publication’s recognition, operations, or access to funds,” CEGP Bicol stressed. “Furthermore, subscription fees collected from students must be released automatically, and withholding them for bureaucratic compliance violates both the law and the publication’s rights.”
In addition, it alleged, the JPIA–CatSU Chapter has recently implemented arbitrary audit penalties, charging a daily penalty of 100 pesos for delayed audits, with no limit or cap, and without authorization from OSADS, the VPAA, or the SUC President, resulting in more than P30,000 in penalties for The CatSU Statesman.