During its fifth plenary session on August 21, the Holy Angel University Student Government (HAUSG) Senate suspended Senator John Peterwin Roque for seven days after he admitted to breaching a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
With 13 senators voting in favor and two abstaining, the decision followed the Committee on Rules’ investigation report, to which Roque pleaded guilty during the session.
Under the 2024 HAUSG Constitution, Article XV, Section 4, any disclosure of confidential information to non-senators, regardless of intent, constitutes a serious offense. The NDA breach is also classified as a sanctionable offense.
The breach covered confidential resolutions and communications, including data from the July 3 survey on Senate Bill No. 002-2526, or the Pronouns and Gender Respect Policy Act of 2025, as well as Roque’s earlier allegations of “abuse of authority” against the former committee chair.
An affidavit filed on August 11 confirmed that sensitive Senate matters were disclosed to individuals outside the chamber. Senator Franco Luiz Torno, however, declined to identify the complainants, citing “data privacy” for both Roque and the parties involved.
“They testified that they received information directly from Senator Roque regarding certain Senate files and communication channels,” Torno said.
The affidavit formed part of the Committee on Rules’ investigation, which Senate President Malthine Valiente said “gathered written and oral evidence.”
“The committee received documented reports from certain individuals — which we cannot disclose ‘in respect to data privacy,’” Valiente added.
In its report, the committee clarified that Roque was not found guilty of data tampering, citing “lack of conclusive evidence.” However, it recommended that the survey on Senate Bill No. 002-2526 be considered for possible invalidation due to “flawed methodology.”
On the claim of abuse of authority, the committee noted Roque’s formal withdrawal of his earlier allegation of “power tripping” against the chair.
“The committee stresses that while Senator Roque is not guilty of data tampering, the breach of the NDA shall be subject to deliberation and approval of the University Senate,” the report stated.
Roque’s seven-day suspension came after he resigned as chair of the Committee on Institutional Effectiveness. In his resignation letter, he described the move not as an “escape,” but as a “step toward healing” and “taking responsibility.”
“I recognize the seriousness of the issue, which is why I stepped down as chair of the Committee on Institutional Effectiveness,” he stated.
Even after stepping aside as chair, Roque said he would continue serving as senator, with several bills and initiatives still on the table. This is despite Article XV, Section 7 of the 2024 HAUSG Constitution stating that any officer found guilty of a serious offense shall be immediately terminated, while Section 8 stipulates permanent disqualification from running for or holding any future post.
In an emergency meeting on August 16, the Committee on Rules pushed to amend Rule 47, Section 122, replacing the word “termination” with “suspension,” warning that the former could be ruled unconstitutional. The Senate later approved the change, with the majority voting in favor.
As of writing, two grounds merit suspension before the High Court: the accumulation of more than three unexcused absences in official Senate sessions, and failure to communicate an absence for 30 consecutive calendar days without prior notice or approval from the Senate body.
“I admit I made mistakes, but I’m taking this as a chance to do better. I owe it to my colleagues and to the students to keep serving with sincerity and conviction,” Roque concluded.
The post vacated by Roque has been filled by Senator Irene Manabat.
