PUP Student Regent JP Azusano resigns amid enrollment controversy

The 20th Student Regent of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) John Paul “JP” Y. Azusano resigned on October 26 after admitting that he lacked active enrollment status since the summer term of academic year 2025–2026.

In a Facebook statement, Azusano apologized for his failure to comply with Article VIII, Section 4 of the Constitution of Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Konseho ng PUP (ANAK PUP), the federation-alliance of all student councils and governments of PUP, which mandates that executive committee members and students leaders must be a bona fide student of the university.

“I know my lapse dealt a blow to your trust in the Office, but I implore fellow students to not lose faith in genuine student representation and militant leadership.”

He also urged that the student regent post must not remain vacant as “prolonging any vacancy renders vulnerable the entire student body.”

The ANAK PUP General Assembly recently voted to preventively suspend Azusano during its Third Special Meeting on October 25 and elected College of Political Science and Public Administration Student Council President Cherry Jhoana Ubani as Officer-in-Charge with 15 votes.

Azusano assured that he will cooperate with any investigation linked to the issue.

“Despite my resignation, I remain willing to cooperate with any official investigation or proceedings conducted by the 26th ANAK PUP Congress to ensure a fair process and appropriate accountability in the interest of the student body.”

Social media concerns raised by PUP students prompted ANAK PUP to submit a formal inquiry to the Office of the University Registrar regarding Azusano’s enrollment.

Total transparency and genuine accountability

Kabataan Partylist – PUP released an official statement formally requesting “total transparency and genuine accountability” on the investigation.

“We respectfully request to the federation and the student body to recognize that the rule requiring a Student Regent to remain a bona fide student is not a minor bureaucratic detail.”

While the current PUP Central and Local Student Council elections are still ongoing, the chapter urged the running factions to abstain from using the controversy as a political weapon.

Azusano is a member of SAMASA PUP, one of the political factions running for the Central and Local Student Council posts.