Dismissed CHED official retakes post

MANILA, Philippines - A power struggle appears to be brewing at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) after a dismissed official reclaimed his post following a ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA).

CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo said he has returned to the commission yesterday, more than a week after the CA overturned an earlier ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman that removed him from his post.

But in a text message to The STAR, CHED chair Patricia Licuanan said Vitriolo has not resumed his post as executive director of the agency.

She said it would be premature for CHED to act as they have yet receive an official copy of the CA ruling and instructions from the Office of the President.

Licuanan and Vitriolo were engaged in a power struggle last year after the latter wrote to Duterte and asked him to appoint a replacement chairperson.

Licuanan, an appointee of former president Benigno Aquino III, maintained that she has a fixed term until next year and cannot be replaced by the Chief Executive.

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

Vitriolo claimed that Yee, who has yet to issue a statement on the matter, allowed him to resume his functions.

“I thank the CA for vindicating me,” Vitriolo said in a phone interview with The STAR.

In January, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered Vitriolo dismissed from his post after he was found guilty of the administrative offenses of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, incompetence and inefficiency.

The issue stemmed from an alleged diploma mill program that Vitriolo failed to investigate.

In its ruling, the CA said the penalty of dismissal was too harsh.

The CA found him liable for violating Section 5(a) of the Code of Conduct of Public Officials by failing to act promptly on letters and requests and meted him 30 days’ suspension, which he has served.