THE CAMARINES Sur Polytechnic College vowed to take “appropriate steps” in addressing complaints on the alleged plagiarized speech of its magna cum laude which triggered a storm on social media.

Netizens claimed that Jayvee Ayen’s valedictory address was copied from the statement of Far Eastern University graduate Mariyela Mari Hugo.

Ayen, in a report by The Spark, the official student-community publication of the college, said that it was not his intention to plagiarize the speech but was only inspired by it.

“I hope people appreciate the message of my speech kasi na-experience [rin] namin ‘yun. U mean not to plagiarize. Naka-relate lang rin ako ng sobra nung napanoond ko ‘yung video,” Ayen said.

He also apologized to Hugo for copying the speech and said that it is only a coincidence that their topics were the same.

CSPC has since issued an apology for the incident and offered reconciliation with the party of Hugo. It called on  the public to give Ayen a chance to start his career as an entrepeneur.

“Rest assured that internally, we shall as we always do, within the rules of the College, be making appropriate steps for corrective and formative measures towards Mr. Ayen and in the school in general,” it said.