MSU defies order to stop offering law degree program

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Mindanao State University (MSU) System on Saturday announced it will continue offering law degrees, including in extension campuses, despite a cease and desist order from the Legal Education Board (LEB). In a statement, the MSU system maintained that LEB has no authority over MSU's law curriculum administration as the institution is independently operating under a charter as indicated in Republic Act (RA) 1387. "Still, in accordance with the Charter of MSU and Section 12 of RA 7662 (Legal Education Reform Act), the MSU Law Program will continue to operate in all its campuses by order of the MSU System President and upon the authority of the MSU Board of Regents," part of the statement read. On Aug. 8, LEB issued a resolution canceling the accreditation of MSU College of Law, revoking its government recognition, and effectively ordering the closure of its law programs across all campuses beginning the Academic Year 2025-2026 because of its 'continuing inability and deliberate ref usal' to offer its law extension programs without authorization from the Board. It also noted MSU's persistence to admit law students in its Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Maguindanao extension campuses despite the cease and desist order and a "status quo" between parties agreed in June. "While MSU filed a Petition for Arbitration before the Office of the Solicitor General, the LEB has not received any injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction against the implementation of its decision," part of LEB's statement read. In 1981, the MSU Board of Regents established the College of Law. In 1993, RA 7662 was signed into law that led to the creation of LEB, with a mandate "to uplift the standards of legal education." Source: Philippines News agency