Dela Torre is PUP OIC

MANILA, Philippines - The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) board of regents has named ex-priest and anti-Marcos activist Edicio dela Torre as officer-in-charge (OIC) after deciding not to extend or reappoint its erstwhile controversial president, Dr. Dante Guevarra.

In a statement, the PUP BOR, chaired by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, said that it had convened last Monday to discuss the matter of the term expiration of Guevarra on July 5, 2011 and his possible reappointment, but had junked this move after considering a performance evaluation report on the university president.

The PUP BOR said that the decision not to reappoint Guevarra was brought on by the fact that the performance evaluation yielded unfavorable results.

“Upon full deliberation, the Board, in view of the failure of Dr. Guevarra to obtain an outstanding rating, decided to appoint an officer-in-charge effective upon the expiration of his term,” the PUP BOR said.

Dela Torre, it was learned, will serve as PUP OIC while the BOR conducts a search for a new president in a “two-month” period.

“The Board enjoins all members of the PUP community to provide full support to the officer-in-charge and to maintain proper levels of operation in all aspects of its academic programs and administrative systems,” the PUP BOR urged in their statement.