CA: Lanao Sur school exec lied about her age

MARAWI CITY, Philippines – Public school teachers in Lanao del Sur are rejoicing over a ruling by the Court of Appeals (CA) finding their division superintendent guilty for lying about her age to defer retirement.

Former school division superintendent Mona Macatanong had been insisting she would retire in October 2016, when records showed she turned 65 in 2013.

Earlier, Macatanong managed to secure a relief from a Marawi City court, which ruled she was younger than the age she stated on the data sheet that she filled out when she applied for a teaching position more than three decades ago.

Macatanong’s subordinates criticized the ruling of the Marawi court, noting it was meant to extend her stay as division superintendent.

In a ruling released on Dec. 4, the CA said Macatanong reached the mandatory retirement age in 2013 and she could no longer hold on to the post.

The appellate court said the school official violated the civil service law when she refused to vacate the post.

Macatanong’s refusal to retire had caused trouble in the operation of the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The CA said Macatanong should no longer be allowed to continue receiving salaries and emoluments from the government.

Reporters have been receiving text messages from teachers in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur, hailing the CA ruling.

An education official on Monday said he would consult lawyers on how to enforce the CA ruling on Macatanong.