Solon slams CHED chair over travels
MANILA — Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Patricia Licuanan has violated an executive order (EO) on foreign travels by not obtaining Palace approval for at least eight trips she made in 2017, a Davao congressman claimed yesterday.
But Licuanan was quick to deny the allegation and told The STAR, "I do not know what (Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list) Rep. (Jericho) Nograles is talking about and where he is getting his facts."
"I get a travel authority from the Office of the President for all my travel, including personal trips. This is well documented," she said.
Licuanan also denied issuing a travel authority for herself, saying she only issues authorities for other CHED officials as per her mandate as head of an agency. "I hope Rep. Nograles has been misquoted. But if not, he should definitely check his facts before making false accusations," she said.
Nograles, a constituent of President Duterte in Davao City, said based on documents in his possession, Licuanan approved her own trips.
He said the CHED boss violated EO 456, issued on Sept. 1, 2005 by then president Gloria MacapagalArroyo, which requires "members of the Cabinet and officials of equivalent rank" to seek the approval of Malacañang for any foreign travel.
He added that Licuanan could be liable for "grave misconduct, which the Supreme Court has defined as flagrant disregard of established rules, among others," and for usurping Malacañang's authority to approve her foreign trips.
Nograles said Licuanan traveled to Thailand in March, United States, France and Germany in June, Singapore in August, Taiwan and Singapore in October and Canada in November.
The CHED chief holds a Cabinet rank. She used to attend Cabinet meetings when she was still on speaking terms with Duterte. She is an appointee of former president Benigno Aquino III.
In the latter part of 2016, Duterte asked Aquino appointees to submit their courtesy resignation so he could replace them. Licuanan refused, since she enjoys a fixed term that would expire this year.
There were speculations that the President wanted to replace her with his supporter Prospero de Vera, whom he has appointed as one of the commissioners of CHED. —