SRIC distances itself from estafa case against its president

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

St. Robert’s International College (SRIC) in Iloilo City has distanced itself from the syndicated estafa complaint filed against its president, insisting the school itself is not a respondent and dismissing reports suggesting otherwise as “fake news.”

In a statement issued July 11, the school said it had remained silent following the filing of the complaint against SRIC President Robert F. Galindez and six others on the advice of its legal counsel.

“Now, SRIC will break its silence. We firmly and categorically state that: SAY NO TO FAKE NEWS!” the statement from the school administration read.

SRIC maintained that no criminal case had been filed against the institution before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Iloilo or any other legal forum.

The school claimed social media posts linking SRIC to the syndicated estafa complaint had caused “serious concerns, alarm and chaos” within and outside the institution.

SRIC also warned it would take action against those spreading what it described as false information, saying it supports free speech but believes “fake news should be stopped and responsible journalism should always be exercised.”

The statement came days after six public school teachers from Dueñas, Iloilo, filed a syndicated estafa complaint against seven individuals, including Galindez, before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Iloilo on July 9.

The complaint alleges the respondents falsely represented an unauthorized graduate degree program as one affiliated with Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU), inducing the complainants to pay a total of PHP 563,750 in enrollment, tuition, examination and other fees.

The complainants alleged the International Oriental Medical Doctors College–Northwest Samar State University Special Academic Program was promoted through SRIC and St. Robert’s Training and Management Center as an officially recognized graduate program of NwSSU.

Under Philippine law, syndicated estafa — swindling committed by a group of five or more — is a nonbailable offense that carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment, which is why the complaint against the seven respondents is a serious one.

While the complaint identifies Galindez as one of the respondents, SRIC itself is not named as a respondent.

In its statement, SRIC did not directly address the allegations against Galindez or the substance of the complaint.

“From then, until now, SRIC will remain steadfast in its mandate to provide quality education for all, and to maintain a safe, lawful, and supportive learning environment,” the school said.