Rody names De Vera CHED officer-in-charge
President Duterte has designated Commission on Higher Education (CHED) commissioner J. Prospero de Vera III as officer-in-charge of the agency.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum informing De Vera of the designation following the forced resignation of chair Patricia Licuanan last week.
“Upon the instruction of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and to ensure the continuous and effective delivery of public service, please be informed that you are hereby designated as officer-in-charge of the Commission on Higher Education, effective immediately,” read the memorandum dated Jan. 24.
De Vera, a former vice president of the University of the Philippines, was Duterte’s first appointee to the five-member commission.
Last week, Licuanan resigned from her post following weeks of criticisms on various issues, including her travels, health and implementation of programs in the commission.
She made the decision following a phone call from Medialdea.
“Although I vehemently deny the accusations against me, it is time to resign as my continued presence in CHED is inimical to the interest of the institution,” said Licuanan.
De Vera is believed to be Duterte’s favored official in CHED as Licuanan is an appointee of former president Benigno Aquino III.
Prior to his appointment in CHED, he was a professor of policy analysis, administrative systems, social development, and legislative studies at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance.
He is a known political analyst who has hosted tele- vision and radio shows with ABS-CBN.
De Vera served as executive assistant, chief of staff, senior consultant, and senior adviser to at least eight senators, including former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and former Senate president pro-tempore Leticia Ramos-Shahani.
He was also appointed by Duterte as adviser of the government peace panel on the negotiations with the National Democratic Front.
He finished BA History and Doctor of Public Administration degrees in UP and specialized in higher education administration at the Rossier School of Education of the University of Southern California as a Fulbright Hays Visiting Scholar.
New DOLE officials
Meanwhile, the President has appointed former Negros Oriental representative Jacinto Paras as undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment and Bernard Olalia as administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
Paras earlier led the filing of complaints against exCommission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang.
Paras and his lawyer, Manuelito Luna, announced last year that they were planning to file a complaint against Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente for alleged grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
They alleged that Clemente refused to meet with them to discuss updates on administrative cases filed against incumbent Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong.
Paras also filed complaints before the Office of the President against Bautista, Morales and Carandang.