CHED exec Vitriolo to appeal dismissal

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Executive Director Julito Vitriolo will appeal the dismissal order issued against him by the Office of the Ombudsman.

 

Reacting to the order for his dismissal released Thursday, Vitriolo said he was surprised by the decision as he believes there were considerations that were not taken into account in the hearing of the case.

 

“The decision is not yet final and we will definitely appeal said decision,” said the executive director. “I believe that upon proper review the findings will be set aside.”

 

Vitriolo, the highest-ranking career executive in the agency, was ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman for failing to investigate an alleged “diploma mill” education program between the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the National College of Physical Education (NCPE).

 

The program, created following a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between PLM and NCPE in 1996, was suspended in 2008 after the Commission on Audit found it prejudicial to the interest of the university.

 

The case against Vitriolo was filed after he supposedly failed to comply with requests for information on the program and conducting an investigation into the existence or implementation of the program.

 

Vitriolo was likewise accused of allowing in 2010 the issuance of transcripts to the graduates of the program despite its suspension.

 

“Vitriolo failed to realize that such omission would result in adverse consequences to public funds spent in the implementation of the suspended PLM-NCPE MOA, and to 703 students under the MOA who had to suffer financial reverses for spending time and money for an education that was worthless in the eyes of the law,” said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in the joint resolution.

 

“By sheer inattention to communications addressed to him, the respondent showed not even the slightest care about requests from the public,” she added, referring to his failure to comply with the requests for information and investigation of the allegations.

 

He was found guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, incompetence and inefficiency, and violation of the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees.

 

Charges for violating the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act will also be filed against the CHED official before the Sandiganbayan, according to the Ombudsman.

 

The Ombudsman said Vitriolo was previously suspended for misconduct in 1999.

 

CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan has yet to comment on the dismissal order against Vitriolo.

 

The executive director recently figured in a power play in the agency when he called for the resignation of Licuanan after she was barred from attending Cabinet meetings in Malacañan.