Miriam puzzled by Cunanan's scholastic record

MANILA - Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago on Thursday said she is puzzled by Technology Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan's scholastic record, noting that the TRC official kept changing schools and college courses. During Thursday's hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the pork barrel scam, Santiago noted that Cunanan shifted courses from public administration to commerce to law. "You are a character. I am very perplexed," she said. Under questioning, Cunanan confirmed that he took up public administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman where he earned 144 units. He said he had to leave the university because he had reached the maximum residency or the maximum 5 years allowed to finish his course. "Yun, bagsak ka nga. Nag overstaying ka. Normally, you should take 4 years," Santiago noted. The senator also noted that Cunanan transferred to Lacson College in Pasay where he finished commerce in 2005. This was after Cunanan was appointed TRC deputy director general in December 2004. He then took up a Masters in Public Administration at the Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan. Cunanan said his MA classes happened only once a week on Sundays. He said he frequented Dagupan because one of his children stays there. ANC, March 6, 2014