Bacaltos claims right to contested salary

CEBU, Philippines - Former acting Talisay City College president Ritchel Bacaltos claimed he is the one entitled to receive salary during the period when the school's presidency was contested.

"It's me. The Board of Trustees of the TCC, including the Commission on Higher Education, recognized me as the lawful school acting president (that time)," Bacaltos said.

Bacaltos was appointed by the BOT during the time of then mayor and now City Councilor Socrates Fernandez, who used to be a TCC chairman, as acting city college president starting July 2013.

He was reacting to the report that Dr. Paulus Mariae Cañete is entitled to receive the salary of the school president within the contested period from February to May citing that contract as TCC president was valid until December 2014.

Cañete said appointing a new TCC president would be breach of his contract.

Bacaltos said the problem now lies with the city government since Mayor Johnny de los Reyes appointed then Cañete without the authority from the board.

"Why him? Is he appointed by the BOT? He claims that he has contract until December but the question is naa ba siya'y appointment gikan sa BOT," Bacaltos told The Freeman.

TCC was wrapped with controversy for the past months after De los Reyes had ordered Bacaltos to relinquish his post in favor of Cañete, which he appointed through an executive order.

The controversy even led to two graduation rites and enrollment issues.

In a separate interview, one of the members of the BOT and Councilor Richard Francis "Choy" Aznar said as far as the BOT is concerned, Bacaltos is entitled to receive the salary during the contested period.

"Si Ritchel gyud… Even the City Council made a stand nga we recognize him and not Paulus Cañete," Aznar added.

Before the school opening in June this year, the BOT then unanimously appointed Commission on Higher Education-7 director Freddie Bernal as the next president.

But before classes started, Bernal was forced to quit after CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan denied the request for him to take over leadership of the school.

Bernal then temporarily appointed as officer-in-charge Dr. Joseph Sol Galleon, the associate dean of Cebu Normal University, whose appointment the BOT concurred with.

A week after, however, Galleon resigned citing his failing health.

Last June 27, the BOT appointed Dr. Ester Velasquez as the new college president during a meeting held at the CHED-7 office in Lahug, Cebu City.