CEBU, Philippines - Barely two weeks from his appointment as acting Talisay City College president, Engineer Gamaliel Vicente Jr.'s official assumption into the post remains in limbo.
Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said he is withholding the signing of Vicente's appointment papers following a manifesto signed by some students, alumni and faculty members of the school declaring their opposition to the school board's recent move.
Those who signed the manifesto against Vicente said he could not effectively handle his new position since he is already "loaded with work" as acting Talisay City engineer and acting dean of the University of the Visayas College of Engineering and Architecture.
"Wala pa nako pirmahi ang iyang appointment kay naglikay ko sa gubot. Kinahanglan paminawon ang mga reklamo sa estudyante, naa ilang manifesto nga mi-oppose sa iyang appointment. Ako naglikay ra gyud ko nga magkagubot na usab diha," De los Reyes said.
In their manifesto furnished to the mayor, about 500 students, including Supreme Student Government president Mar Onell Booc, alumni president Jasyer Abacayan and faculty association president Enrique Peñaranda are resisting Vicente's installation.
However, they are amenable to De los Reyes sitting as temporary officer-in-charge of the school, an idea the mayor categorically rejected earlier citing the nature of his job as the city's chief executive.
While Vicente has already laid out his plans and programs for the school before the Board of Trustees, he confirmed to The FREEMAN he is still waiting for an official go signal.
"I do not know when they will install me. It's up to the mayor and the Board of Trustees," Vicente said.
A known ally of former Cebu congressman Eduardo Gullas, Vicente was appointed last July 17 by the De los Reyes-led TCC board as its newest acting president.
De los Reyes, to recall, won the mayoral post against Gullas by a margin of 736 votes in the May 2013 elections.
Earlier, Vicente downplayed speculations there is a trace of politics in his appointment as he vowed to be neutral in dealing with the issues involving the TCC.
He was also willing to give up his position as acting dean "if necessary."
Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, meanwhile, said the TCC presidency issue will continue because the school has become a "political battleground" among supporters of the city's two major political personalities.
Political observers believe that the student and alumni organizations are backing the incumbent mayor. (FREEMAN)