DepEd undersecretary quits

An undersecretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) has resigned from his post following his failure to convince the Civil Service Commission (CSC) that his transfer to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was illegal.

In a text message to reporters, DepEd Undersecretary Juan Miguel Luz said his resignation is effective April 21, 2006.

Luz disclosed he would take on the position of president of an international non-governmental organization.

"Over the past four years, DepEd was transformed into one of the cleanest government agencies," said Luz, basing his statement on a Social Weather Stations survey.

Earlier, Luz filed a complaint against Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita before the CSC, declaring his transfer to DOLE illegal and a blatant disregard of his rights as civil servant.

"I am an educator. I’m not a labor expert," Luz said. "Termination is not part of the issue here. But reassignment is basically like termination." — Sandy Araneta