USM Professor Apologizes for Plagiarizing Student's Thesis
(SPOT.ph) With so much talk surrounding the pros and cons of artificial intelligence lately, a development has come to remind us that we don’t even need technology to pass off another’s work as your own—as seen in the case of this English Language and Literature professor.
Riceli C. Mendoza, a former faculty member at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Cotabato, has issued a public apology for plagiarizing the thesis of her advisee, Jemima M. Atok, a graduate of AB English.
The apology was posted on Facebook by the USM’s Department of English Language and Literature on May 6. It is unclear exactly what happened, only that Mendoza is a professor at the department and tried to submit Atok’s work as her own.
Mendoza acknowledged the “emotional pain” she caused to Atok and her family.
“I am very sorry to publish your thesis in my name. I am truly sorry that I failed to recognize you as the author and the owner of the published paper/article. Instead, I claimed it as my own,” Mendoza said in the statement. “I honestly acknowledge my fault and rest assured that this may never happen again in the history of academic endeavor. I earnestly implore your forgiveness.”
PHOTO BY Facebook/Department of English Language and Literature of USM
The statement has received over 21,000 reactions and 13,000 shares as of writing. SPOT.ph has reached out to Atok for comments and is awaiting for response.
What we know so far about the plagiarism incident at University of South Cotabato
According to USM’s website, Mendoza was a former faculty regent and quality assurance director of the USM. She was also among the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, Inc.’s (AACCUP) Board of Trustees from 2020 to 2023.
The university has yet to issue a formal response on the situation. For now, it is clear that Mendoza is no longer part of USM.
On the other hand, Atok appears to be a current part-time instructor at USM since 2021, based on her LinkedIn profile.
Many of Mendoza’s former students took to the comments to express support for the teacher, noting that “to others you are bad, but you have done so much for us.” Others weren’t so forgiving.
The comments section shows a wide range of opinions, to say the least.
PHOTO BY Screenshot/Department of English Language and Literature of USM
PHOTO BY Screenshot/Department of English Language and Literature of USM
What does the law say about plagiarism in the Philippines?
In a 2012 advisory, the Department of Justice (DOJ) explained plagiarism as the “deliberate and knowing presentation of another person’s original ideas or creative expressions as one’s own.” It’s an act of intellectual dishonesty that is particularly serious in fields that value originality, like academics and the arts. The Supreme Court requires evidence of “deliberate intent” to confirm plagiarism.
Although plagiarism is not a crime under the Intellectual Property Code (IPC) unless it also constitutes copyright infringement, the implications can still be significant. Copyright laws protect original works for 50 years after the creator’s death, but there’s no time limit on the protection against plagiarism. However, once a work is in the public domain after those 50 years, it’s free for anyone to use.
In instances where plagiarism does overlap with copyright infringement, the law is strict. Penalties range from fines of P50,000 to P150,000 and imprisonment for a first offense, escalating to fines up to P1,500,000 and longer jail terms for repeated offenses.
In academic settings, plagiarism can lead to severe non-legal consequences such as loss of credibility, academic sanctions, expulsion from educational institutions, and damage to one’s professional reputation.