Raps poised vs Cebu school head

CEBU CITY — The Office of the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against the president of Cebu Normal University for allegedly changing the school uniform without authority from the school’s board of regents.

The anti-graft office found that Ester Velasquez not only changed the school uniform last year but also entered into an exclusive contract with Koken Clothes to provide the new uniform, again allegedly without authority from the regents.

The Ombudsman, however, dropped five other charges against Velasquez for lack of probable cause. The charges involved her implementation of tuition increases, alleged campus repression, alleged irregular implementation of the Summer Institute, and the conduct of review classes for teachers.

The case that stuck against Velasquez stemmed from an anonymous letter from a group of parents who deplored the alleged monopoly and control by the university of the supply of the new school uniform.

It was alleged that students and parents were not consulted when Velasquez ordered the change in uniform and that no bidding was conducted for the supply of the new uniform.

Students allegedly had to buy the new uniform only from Koken Clothes.

Documents show that Velas—quez entered into a four-year contract with Koken Clothes on May 25, 2001 for the exclusive supply of the fabric and buttons for the new uniform.

While the university’s board of regents was informed of the change in school uniform for schoolyear 2001-2002, the Ombudsman said it never adopted any resolution authorizing Velasquez to enter into an exclusive supply contract with Koken Clothes.

"The compulsory purchase of the complete set of uniforms imposed upon the students had caused untold financial burden on them and their parents. Most, if not all, of the students enrolled in this university are financially disadvantaged," the Ombudsman said.

Sought for comment, Velasquez said the change in school uniform was not arbitrary, claiming that the students themselves had asked for it.

She said the charges were only brought up by university personnel who resented her new position.

Velasquez said the students themselves, even before she became president, had long wanted to have the old uniform changed, and took the initiative by asking the former dean of student affairs who, in turn, undertook a bidding for the fabric and the design.

She said the bidding was only by invitation since it was a non-government transaction. Three bidders took part but Koken Clothes reportedly submitted the lowest bid.

Velasquez said the design of the new uniform was included in the contract signed by some students and teachers belonging to the uniform committee.

She admitted that only "class mayors" were present when the contract was signed.

Velasquez said the elementary school was never informed of the change in uniform on the presumption that since students were not paying any tuition, they would not object to it.

The grade school’s parent-teachers association eventually approved the change only when it was about to be implemented.

Still, college students are allowed to use the old uniform if they could not afford to buy the new one. But most students have complied. — Freeman News Service