Duterte says he 'dismissed' Licuanan as CHED chair

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged Monday that he dismissed Commission on Higher Education chairperson Patricia Licuanan, a fixed-term official who was accused of making unnecessary trips.

 

"I have dismissed Licuanan today sa CHED and yung sa Marina (Maritime Industry Authority administrator Marcial Amaro III)," Duterte said during the turnover of police vehicles in Davao City. 

 

"Many will follow," he added. 

 

Duterte warned officials not to commit corruption under his term. 

 

"Not during my time. Just give the Filipino a respite of about four years. Not during my watch please," he added. 

 

In a press conference hours before the event in Davao City, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte would accept the resignation of Licuanan.  

 

"I wish to announce that the President has received the resignation of CHED (Commission on Higher Education) Chairperson Patricia Licuanan and that it will be accepted by the President," Roque said in a press briefing yesterday in Malacanang. 

 

Roque said the Office of the President received the resignation letter at 8 a.m. via email. 

 

"A hard copy is forthcoming. I’ve not seen the copy of the forthcoming. I’ve been advised though, that since it’s been received, it will be accepted," the presidential spokesman said. 

 

Roque could not confirm whether Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea had called Licuanan to ask her to resign. 

 

He said The President has not named a successor to the resigned CHED chief. 

 

"But as is the procedure, the most senior of the commissioners will takeover in an acting capacity," Roque said. 

 

Asked whether Licuanan's trips were considered in accepting the resignation, Roque said:  "This is an act of resignation. It was a decision of Chairperson Licuanan herself."

 

"Her resignation has rendered all controversies be moot and I don’t feel compelled to issue any statement in that regard," he added. 

 

Roque said Duterte was aware of the allegations against Licuanan but "it doesn’t matter really what he says or thinks because Chairman Licuanan has resigned."

 

Rep. Jericho Nograles (Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta paty-list) had accused Licuanan of going on excessive trips and of authorizing her own travels abroad, an allegation that she has countered by showing travel authorities approved by Malacañang.

 

 

Asked whether Malacanang would also look into the foreign trips of officials of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Roque replied: "I have no idea, but the President—in the one-on-one interview has said that the Cabinet members must seek his approval for their travels." 

In a related development, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar responded to criticisms against his ten foreign trips, saying six of them were personally paid for or were sponsored. 

 

Andanar said he personally paid for his two personal trips to Australia.

 

"Albeit two trips in Australia were personal, I still managed to attend three Filipino community events and I also met with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Special Broadcasting Service, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and China Global Network. The meeting with DFat resulted in the free emergency broadcast seminar Australia will be giving to our government media personnel. They are coming over in February," Andanar said. 

 

He said a sponspored trip to Suzhuo, China resulted in a P70 million donation and an additional commitment of P150 million to the Philippine Broadcasting Service.

 

He said his attendance to the "Making All Voices Count" event in the United Kingdom was a sponsored trip while the trip to the United Arab Emitates was a stopover trip.

 

"At the [United Arab Emirates], I met with distressed Filipinos at the consulate," Andanar said. 

 

Andanar claimed the trip to Paris was also part of the UK “sponsored” travel and it was only a “day trip” to meet with the Filipino community who asked for his presence to clarify some issues.

 

He said Duterte gave him the go signal to attend the inaugural of US President Donald Trump's inauguration last year.