Sutha Chansaeng, the minister of social development and human security, did indeed graduate from the Republican College in 1984, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported yesterday.

"Our records show that he graduated from our school in 1984," Ditas Lapata, from the college's registrar office, was quoted as saying in the report.

Lapata's confirmation seems to have cleared doubts if the first-time minister did indeed graduate from this little-known college.

Sutha had earlier told reporters that he graduated from the Republican College with a Bachelor of Science, commerce major, in 1984. He said this to quell a report that he had only completed Grade 12, or the equivalent of secondary school.

Clarifications

The Philippine Daily Inquirer acquired a copy of Sutha's upper-secondary school transcript, which was translated in 1984 and used by Sutha to enrol at the Republican College. However, the photo attached to the transcript looks like it was taken during 2006-2007 because it shows him wearing a yellow tie in honour of His Majesty the King's 60th year on the throne.

The law requires that all Cabinet members hold a bachelor's degree.

The controversy took another turn when it was discovered that the minister's first passport was issued in 1994, a decade after he graduated from Republican College in Quezon City.

However, the Foreign Ministry refused to disclose any details about Sutha's passport, citing his right to privacy.

Flying in all directions

In 1985, the minister's campaign flyer for the Bangkok City Council elections showed that he had only completed Grade 12. But a flyer used in last year's general elections claimed he had a bachelor's degree from Republican College.

Sutha said he did not declare his degree when campaigning in 1985 because the institution had not been recognised by the Thai Civil Service Commission.

The Inquirer said the college, established in 1949 by Dr Horosi Aguiling, offers bachelor's degrees in education, commerce, criminology and liberal arts as well as secretarial courses. It also offers master's degrees in arts and education, in addition to secondary education. It now has a student population of 600.

Lapata told the Inquirer that some time last month, "somebody from the Thai Embassy came over to check [Sutha's] school records.

"We later sent copies of the records they requested by DHL."

DAILY XPRESS

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Facts at hand

>> Republican College is located at 42 18th Avenue, Murphy, Quezon City, Philippines.

>> Sutha submitted his upper-secondary-education transcript to the college in 1984 - the year he is said to have graduated.

>> A senior officer from the Republican College said an official from the Thai Embassy had visited the college last month to check Sutha's school records.