MANILA - Mark Solis, the University of the Philippines gradute student who used other people's photographs in several contests, could lose his degree, a UP official said Friday.



Solis won grand prize at the Calidad Humana "Smiles for the World" contest organized by the Embassy of Chile. It turned out, however, that the picture was lifted from the flicker account of John Gregory Smith of the Children at Risk Foundation.



The UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) also discovered that the picture was entered by Solis thrice in various photo competitions.



He also joined 4 other photo essay contests using different pictures stolen from different Flicker accounts.



The contests he joined were:

Calidad Humana Smiles For The World

Mulat Maninipat Photojournalism Contest of the Union of Journalists of the Philippines-UP

Photo Contest of the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration

Photo Competition of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

Papworth Trust 2011

VinylPlus Sustainable Thinking Platform photo contest (2010-2011)

SoliWater and Life photo contest of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (2013)

"Iyung digital footprints naman mate-trace iyun atsaka nakita kung sino yung author. Mark Solis submitted 7 photos taken from Flicker," said UP-NCPAG Dean Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza.



UP students said they are disappointed with Solis.



Solis has already apologized to most of the contest organizers, as well as to the UP community.



However, his college will elevate its findings to the UP Diliman chancellor to determine the appropriate disciplinary action.



Villamejor-Mendoza said Solis may be stripped of his degree.



But she also recommends counselling. "Nung nagkausap, kami, he was thinner, mukhang depressed," she said.



It was also discovered that Solis failed to settle his tuition and has sought an authorization for delayed payment.



Solis graduated cum laude with a degree in political science.



He enrolled and attended UP Graduate School last semester.



ABS-CBN News tried to get a statement from Solis, but did not receive any reply. - ANC