Ched chief also banned, but won’t step down

MANILA, Philippines - Unlike Vice President Leni Robredo, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chair Patricia Licuanan is not stepping down from her post even after she was banned from attending Cabinet meetings.

Like Robredo, Licuanan also received a text message from Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr., informing her of President Duterte’s order for her to desist from attending Cabinet meetings starting yesterday.

“I assured Secretary Evasco that I would comply,” said Licuanan. “In the meantime, I will continue my work as chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education.” Licuanan is an appointee of former president Benigno Aquino III.

Malacañang said “irreconcilable differences” with Licuanan prompted the President to ask her  to “desist” from attending Cabinet meetings.

“The reason why Licuanan was asked to desist from attending the Cabinet meeting is the same, irreconcilable differences,” Evasco said without elaborating.

Duterte earlier directed all Aquino appointees to tender their courtesy resignation, but Licuanan maintained that she is not covered by the directive as she has a fixed term.

Under Republic Act 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994, the CHED chairman and the commissioners serve a fixed term of four years, with possible reappointment.

Licuanan, who assumed her post in 2010, was reappointed by President Aquino in 2014. Her second and last term expires in 2018.

Earlier, rumors circulated that Duterte would replace Licuanan with his former professor at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, Jose David Lapuz.

Licuanan, however, brushed aside the reports and stressed her intention to finish her term. She paid Duterte a courtesy call in Davao City following his election on May 9.

In September, the President appointed University of the Philippines professor and political analyst Prospero de Vera as CHED commissioner.

At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella maintained that the President has the prerogative to withdraw appointments.

“Cabinet members are personally appointed by the President; and it is also his prerogative to withdraw the same for reasons known only to him,” Abella said in a statement.

“Cabinet members accept the appointment with the implicit agreement that they agree with his program, platform and policies. While there may be matters they take issue with, these are to be handled consensually because it is vital for the Cabinet to be united,” he added.