Duterte to abide by CA ruling on CHED official

President Duterte would comply with the ruling of the Court of Appeals’ (CA), which ordered the immediate reinstatement of a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) official, Malacañang said yesterday.

Last January, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo for alleged gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, inefficiency and incompetence.

Vitriolo was accused of failing to probe an alleged “diploma mill” education program between the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the National College of Physical Education.

The 2008 program was suspended after the Commission on Audit found that it was prejudicial to the interest of PLM.

The CHED official was also accused of allowing the release of transcript of records and diplomas to the graduates of the program despite its suspension.

But on Aug. 17, the CA ruled that the dismissal of Vitriolo was “too harsh and disproportionate” to his offense and ordered his immediate reinstatement without diminution of salary and benefits.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the government would heed the ruling of the appellate court.

“The Office of the President and the Commission on Higher Education will – of course – respect and abide by the decision and order of the Court of Appeals,” Abella said in a statement.

CHED chair Patricia Licuanan previously said her agency was awaiting instruction from the President given that a new executive director has been named after Vitriolo was dismissed from the service.

Duterte appointed former K-12 transition program director Karol Mark Yee as Vitriolo’s replacement.

Vitriolo previously said he was the legitimate CHED executive director because the CA order was not subject to discussion.