Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan has resigned “irrevocably” as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), saying he does not want to cause further division among members of the university following his delivery last month of a controversial commencement address which lifted portions from speeches of famous celebrities.

In his letter to Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, S.J., Ateneo de Manila University president, Pangilinan thanked the university head for his support when he initially submitted his letter of retirement to the university in the wake of the debacle.

“I am indeed grateful to the Board and to you for the kind words of support… Circumstances have continued to the point where [this issue] is creating division within the university. I have no desire to see this happen, or be an accessory to it. In that light and all things considered, it is best that I stand firm in my decision to retire, and reiterate this wish in my earlier note to you on 3rd April 2010. Please take this letter as confirmation of my resignation from the Board of Trustees of the Ateneo with immediate effect.”

Pangilinan also said he is relinquishing the degree of Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, conferred on him by the school last March 26 “for his inspirational leadership, his enlightened philanthropy, and his generous giving of self to others.”

“Further, for the sake of completeness and of good order, I am relinquishing the honorary degree which the University has bestowed on me last 26th March.”