Up to axed CHED commissioner to defend self – Palace
Malacañang respects the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to order the dismissal of Commission on Higher Education ( CHED) executive director Julito Vitriolo for his failure to stop a state university from issuing diplomas and transcript of records despite the suspension of an education program.
“We recognize and respect the independence of the ombudsman. It has a constitutional duty to fulfill,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said yesterday.
Andanar said the Palace is leaving it up to Vitriolo to appeal the ombudsman’s decision.
“We expect that Mr. Vitriolo and his legal representation would take the appropriate action to clear his name,” he added.
In a resolution signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Vitriolo was found guilty of administrative offenses including grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, incompetence and inefficiency.
Vitriolo was also charged before the Sandiganbayan with violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The ombudsman said Vitriolo acted with gross negligence when it failed to investigate and stop the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) from issuing transcripts of record and diplomas based on a suspended education program.
Based on the ombudsman’s records, it was in 1996 when PLM entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the National College of Physical Education (NCPE).
The MOA supposedly states that “NCPE would use the facility of PLM without compensation but the PLM would select the faculty members for the agreed program and issue diplomas to the graduates.”
The ombudsman said PLM president Adel Tamano in 2008 suspended the MOA in view of the 2007 Commission on Audit finding that the agreement was prejudicial to the interest of the university.
CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan yesterday ordered the immediate execution of the ombudsman’s dismissal order against Vitriolo.
“We have already directed our human resource development division to ensure that the ombudsman’s order is strictly enforced and properly implemented,” Licuanan said in a statement.
“Consistent with the law, rules and jurisprudence on the matter, such an order is immediately executory and ought to be implemented upon receipt,” she added.
Licuanan, whose leadership was recently challenged by Vitriolo, issued the directive despite the dismissed official’s pronouncement that he will appeal the ombudsman’s order.