By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

PHOTO COURTESY OF: Alvin Dizon Campomanes

A woman, invited as a guest of honor in an online graduation ceremony in Dasmariñas, Cavite was caught off-guard after being exposed for allegedly faking her credentials from the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM). 

A certain Kathleen Joy R. Poblete was invited as a guest speaker in the graduation ceremony of Ramona S. Tirona Memorial High School in Dasmariñas City last July 15. 



Poblete claimed she is currently enrolled in the UP Manila College of Law and a recipient of the Juris Doctor’s award and the Best in Research award. She also claimed she was a Summa Cum Laude graduate of UPM’s Political Science program—showing inaccuracy as the University's graduation is set on August 22. 

Her introduction included taking up a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Cavite State University where she was supposedly a consistent college scholar and dean’s lister.

The introduction also claimed that Poblete was able to study at UP Manila (junior year college) through the help of Cavite State University where she earned first honors with an average grade of 1.015.

Poblete, in her make-believe credentials, also shared a proof of her "virtual graduation," which shows inconsistencies in her claim as it contains the logo of UP Diliman in the upper right and UP Manila Political Science Program in the lower right corner. 

Concurrently, the Department of Social Sciences and the Political Science Program of UP Manila in a statement released Tuesday, has “categorically denied any affiliations with Poblete."



The University clarified that neither of the said awards were given by the Department of Social Sciences nor is she currently studying in the College of Law as it only exists in UP Diliman. 

They also emphasized that "there has only been one Summa Cum Laude from the UP Manila Political Science Program—Ms. Georgina Mia B. Gato—who graduated in 2019." 
  
The Office of the University Registrar further confirmed that Poblete has no records of  ever attending the University. 

On the same bid, Cavite State University in a statement, revealed that Poblete was neither a college scholar nor a dean's lister and "has been enrolled in (its) AB Political Science Program for three semesters only, AY 2018-2019 and First Semester of 2019-2020." 

It added that Poblete has not requested any official documents regarding her transfer to another university or school.