Quezon City judge orders removal of CHED exec

MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City judge has ordered the removal of the executive director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) who was accused by a dismissed official of usurpation of office.

Regional Trial Court Branch 83 Judge Ralph Lee granted the quo warranto petition filed by former CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo against Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro, who is currently occupying the position as officer-in-charge.

In his three-page ruling dated Oct. 15, Lee cited previous court resolutions directing the reinstatement of Vitriolo to his previous post.

In the case filed before the Quezon City court, Vitriolo accused Jaro of usurpation for supposedly serving as executive director despite earlier orders from higher courts that directed the former’s reinstatement.

No usurpation

But according to CHED chairman  J. Prospero de Vera III, there is no usurpation of authority committed since the Supreme Court ruling has yet to become final.

“The Supreme Court has already released a statement that the administrative case filed by Oliver Felix against Vitriolo for which he was dismissed by the Ombudsman, and reduced in penalty by the Court of Appeals, is still pending in the Supreme Court,” he told The STAR.

“It is therefore not final and executory and Vitriolo is not the executive director of CHED,” he added.

De Vera said the commission will take necessary steps to resolve the legal issue.

The case stemmed from a 2016 order of former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales dismissing Vitriolo for supposedly failing to investigate an alleged “diploma mill” education program between the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the National College of Physical Education.