Fact check: Ateneo has not been closed; 'This university is closed' photo is edited

This composite photo shows screengrabs from one Facebook post and a TikTok video claiming the Ateneo de Manila University has shut down. This is false.

Screengrab via TikTok and Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — A photo of the Ateneo de Manila University facade with a text box reading "This university is closed" has spread on Facebook and TikTok since early August. Ateneo is open and holding classes, and there is no order from the government for its shutdown.

Reposts of the doctored image on the two social media platforms have also included a caption thanking North Cotabato Governor Emmylou "Lala" Taliño-Mendoza, who previously gave financial assistance to the late stuident-athlete Rene Baterbonia.

Rating: This is false.

Facts

Ateneo is currently holding classes. The university has issued numerous advisories in recent days ordering shifts to online classes and suspension of in-person learning due to weather-related disruptions. 

What Ateneo has received from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is a show-cause order dated June 16 and made public June 23. 

The order gave Ateneo 10 days to explain why it should not be penalized over three alleged violations related to its off-campus team-building activity with members of its collegiate men's basketball team, an incident where Baterbonia and student-athlete Chukwuemeka Divine Adili died from drowning. 

In particular, CHED asked Ateneo to explain why it should not face sanctions for allegedly violating Memorandum Order 63 of 2017 on off-campus activities; Memorandum Order 6 of 2026, which is related to the Anti-Hazing Act; and failure to exercise reasonable supervision over students under in loco parentis

CHED has however announced no sanction against the school amid its pending investigation.

Why we fact-checked this

Philstar.com's scan shows the doctored image has been posted at least thrice on Facebook and TikTok.

The earliest version, posted by "Apple Jordan Shin" on August 6, drew over 400 likes and 70 shares. A repost by the Facebook page "M&MVlog86," captioned with a demand that the school be shut until Baterbonia's family gets justice, drew over 7,500 likes and 300 shares. 

A TikTok repost of the image drew over 300 likes and 13 shares.