Thomasian student leaders under Rise for Education – Espana and lawmakers from Makabayan Bloc filed a house resolution calling for a legislative inquiry into the death of Junver Toledo, a BS Physical Therapy senior in UST who took life on May 17.
Too little, too late
Junver was already set to exit the Arch of the Centuries, a symbolic tradition among UST graduates every midyear, when he received sudden news that he had fallen 1.5% short of passing the Clinical Correlation and Team Approach course, which he had previously failed.
According to his parents, Junver repeatedly pleaded for reconsideration to the Dean of College of Rehabilitation Sciences and the university’s administration to pass his only requirement to graduate.
Junver studied in Philippine Science High School in Cagayan Valley where he spent his high school years and pursued Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand during senior high school. In an interview from the Varsitarian during his funeral, his former classmates would recall lasting impressions on Junver as a friend and demonstrated proficiency in Mathematics and Science where he often took the time to tutor others review for the entrance exams.
In a video interview shared in the Nueva Vizcaya News Hub, Junver’s father, Oliver Toledo, said that Junver has never failed a subject before and they were unaware that their son failed a course that he repeated and could have intervened when they found out more sooner of his situation.
Since last month, various Facebook posts of Junver’s death circulated. UST then extended its condolences to Junver’s family and described his death as an “unfortunate incident.” However, public discontent grew, with many, including Junver’s relatives, calling out UST’s empty condolences and criticizing the institution to show compassion and hold accountability.
“That was a cry for help and you blatantly ignored it,” said Marwin, Junver’s brother-in-law. “You could have at the very least reached out to a family member regarding Junver’s alarming emotional state which according to the emails, your faculty had known since 2024.”
On May 30, after Junver’s burial, the Toledo family met with the university administration and the dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) for a dialogue. According to Junver’s father, the family felt no remorse from the university during the conversation. He recalled that UST emphasized Junver might have passed if he had only attended the university fun run which was worth an additional 3 points, a remark that left the family deeply dissatisfied. They felt that the institution was placing blame on their son for failing the subject.
The issue further gained national attention following the privilege speech by Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel during the resumption of the 19th Congress. He highlighted that Junver’s cry for help is not an isolated case but echoes the voice of each student under the current education system that is based on grades and metrics without considering the welfare of the students.
“Ang patuloy na pagpapatupad ng outcomes-based education nang walang konsiderasyon sa bigat ng workload ng mga mag-aaral ay hindi lamang nangyayari sa UST, kundi sa kalakhan ng mga paaralan sa bansa. […] Sinasamba ang grades and metrics nang walang pagbibigay ng konsiderasyon sa partikular na danas ng mga estudyante,” said Kabataan Partylist Rep. Manuel.
One death is one too many
Previously denouncing the outcomes-based education, lawmakers filed a house resolution urging the House of Representatives to conduct a legislative inquiry into the death of Junver and the effects of outcomes-based education on students nationwide.
The House Resolution No. 2305 was filed by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro with Thomasian student leaders under Rise for Education – Espana.
“[T]he death of one student is one too many, and it underscores the critical need to re-evaluate the purpose and direction of the current education system, ensuring that it genuinely serves the Filipino youth and promotes a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented approach to learning,” the resolution reads.
In a press interview, Rep. Manuel added that education should not be deadly.
Furthermore, Junver’s sister sent a letter that was read by a student leader that accused UST of failure to provide timely mental health support, inadequate systems of reporting and response from faculty, staff, or student services, and institutional silence while denying accountability and transparency.
They also listed their demands to UST, namely an official acknowledgement and apology from the university, disclosure of any and all internal reports, complaints, or communications from Junver, immediate commitment to reforms, especially mental health support, grievance procedures, and crisis response protocols, and appropriate disciplinary action.
The resolution is expected to be referred to the House Committee on Rules to be reviewed before passing through the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education.
