[OPINION] MSU at crossroads of peace and legal education

Mindanao is full of promises. These promises may be given, made, or created to foster the region’s peace, growth, and development. One of these promises is peace education, exemplified by the establishment of Mindanao State University (MSU). With the special mandate to integrate Muslims and other minority cultural groups into the mainstream, MSU has become an instrument to foster understanding and achieve peace in the region.

Since its inception in 1961, MSU has been committed to being a center of excellence in instruction, research, and extension as a national peace university. From its original campus in Marawi City, MSU has grown into a multi-regional university with various independent campuses across Mindanao, recognized among the “best” universities in the region where excellence meets culture.

Throughout the years, MSU has faced unique challenges as a higher educational institution, strategically situated to interrupt conflict in Mindanao.

However, addressing these issues will serve as a baseline for solving the problem rather than fragmenting MSU. While it won’t resolve the problem entirely, it will prevent adding to the list of unfulfilled promises made to Mindanao, especially in the region of Muslim Mindanao.

The manifestation of the Legal Education Board’s (LEB) decisions on MSU’s law programs is a significant example of how MSU can be vulnerable at its industrial stage.

Days before the actual 2024 Bar Examination, the Legal Education Board issued a resolution canceling the accreditation of MSU College of Law and revoking its government recognition to offer basic law programs across all its campuses, starting academic year 2025-2026.

This decision followed MSU’s continued defiance of the LEB’s cease and desist order regarding MSU extension law units in Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, due to a lack of “requisite authority” from the Board. Additionally, the Board also observed that the performance of MSU Law graduates has been below the national average, which it cited as a concern.

In response, Mindanao State University released a statement addressing the LEB’s concerns, emphasizing its position and the basis for its actions. MSU has previously stated that the creation of the MSU College of Law by the MSU Board of Regents is based on the MSU Charter, passed by the Congress of the Philippines as Republic Act 1387, as amended in 1955.

In its statement, MSU argued that MSU College of Law is exempt from LEB’s coverage based on its charter, Republic Act 7662, as stated in Section 12. MSU also argued that LEB is not responsible for the “better” Bar performance of other legal education institutions, asserting that “MSU College of Law performs better” than several institutions under LEB supervision.

The conflict of mandate and jurisdiction between the Legal Education Board and Mindanao State University and its College of Law remains unresolved. There have been debates about whether universities with special charters, such as MSU, are fully subject to LEB regulations, especially concerning the establishment of extension law units.

Whether MSU is subject to LEB’s coverage or not, revoking MSU’s government recognition will not improve legal education in the country. It will only exacerbate the historical problems in Mindanao, hindering the dreams of many youth in the region. This decision not only affects MSU’s operations but also the potential beneficiaries of this extension project in the outskirts of Philippine society.

Since LEB is concerned about MSU’s Law graduates, the LEB should make recommendations to improve legal education in Mindanao by understanding the region’s needs to meet national standards. This collaboration would help MSU College of Law provide quality education and elevate legal education in the region.

Ultimately, we should focus on solutions to the problem rather than its effects, especially in the context of Muslim Mindanao. This aligns with the principles of peace education that MSU was established to promote. Thanks to former Senator Atty. Ahmad Domocao Alonto for his vision of peace and development for Mindanao. Currently, MSU is experiencing its darkest times and needs a support system to continue its mandate.

To stand united with MSU College of Law, its students, alumni, and workforce should create a manifesto calling on the government, through the Legal Education Board, to support the legal extension units by MSU College of Law. This support would help reach more sons and daughters of Mindanao—regardless of whether these units are subject to the Board’s coverage.

Through our collective actions, we can achieve the vision of One MSU and join the movement #OneWithMSULaw. MSU represents a promise of peace through education. By doing our part to contribute to peace, we can fulfill the promise that was once a dream of our ancestors. With this, peace is possible through us. – Rappler.com

Abdul Hafiz Tacoranga Malawani, 23, is an Information Technology major at Mindanao State University Marawi. He is a youth advocate for peace and a campus journalist from Marawi City. He is also part of Movers for Facts Mindanao, a trainers’ training program on media and information literacy organized by Rappler, #FactsFirstPH, and Deutsche Welle Akademie.

The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Rappler.