DAP employees want head axed; agency denies raps

MANILA, Philippines — Employees of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) are calling on President Duterte to replace the current head of the academy.

The DAP Personnel Association accused Elba Cruz, the holdover president of the academic institution, of lacking “both the knowledge and behavior necessary to lead any organization or the government institution.”

They alleged that Cruz instituted unauthorized organizational restructuring at the agency and has violated civil service rules in designation of personnel.

The association also accused the DAP president of threatening to remove employees as a way to silence critics, including those who oppose her decisions such as the looming closure of the institution’s cafeteria that will supposedly affect 100 personnel and their families.

“Since she took over, numerous individuals have been deprived of their livelihood either through terminations, forced resignations or voluntary resignations,” read the petition.

“In her eight months in office, she went abroad every month, depriving the academy of executive time for physically managing the academy, as well as concomitant travel expenses which might have exceeded financial limitations,” it added.

The allegations against Cruz were denied by DAP in an emailed response to The STAR. 

DAP said that this is not the first time that a reorganization was attempted at the academy, stressing its need to achieve the agency’s strategic focus areas. 

DAP said personnel movements were also within the jurisdiction of the DAP president and that efforts are being made to remedy whatever mistakes were committed during the transition period. 

“The issue of foreign travels of Atty. Cruz is incidental with the membership of the academy with the International Productivity Organization,” read the statement. 

“Most of these travels were work-related and there was no unnecessary travel expenses incurred as most of these were sponsored travels,” it added. 

DAP said the foreign travels made by Cruz also belie the allegation that she is unfit for the job. 

“In some of these travels, Atty. Cruz either served as plenary chairman or conference speaker. To be invited to such international conference as speaker or plenary chairman, one must have the skills, knowledge and competence to be able to interact and converse with top level experts and academicians from the rest of the world,” the academy said.

“Obviously, Atty. Cruz has all of these qualities which lead to her being invited as conference speaker or designated as plenary chairman, an honor not just for the academy but for the country as well,” it added. 

Cruz was first appointed by President Duterte as a member of DAP’s board of trustees in March. She took over the presidency in April, but the DAP Personnel Association said her appointment had expired on June 30.