MCC-Tipolo sues DepEd execs

CEBU, Philippines -  The Mandaue City College Tipolo Campus has filed a civil case for mandamus against the Department of Education for allegedly refusing to honor its graduates and its post graduate program.

The MCC-Tipolo and its alumni union asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the DepEd. The school through lawyers Alfredo Sipalay, Marcelo Bacalso, Achilles Cañete, and Kit Enriquez also demanded P600,000 in moral damages and attorney’s fee.

Enriquez said that their purpose of filing the complaint is to compel the DepEd-7 officials to lift the closure order against the MCC-Tipolo.

“Only DepEd-7 ang dili mupatuo, ni comply na all other regions,” he said.

Secretary Armin Luistro, regional director Dr. Carmelita Dulangon, assistant director Dr. Caridad Labe, teacher credential evaluator Lusviminda Talan and administrative officer Ida Cabantan were named respondents in the civil case.

Aventurado Codravel, a graduate of MCC said the DepEd-7 refused to give credit to his post-graduate studies. He added DepEd-7 allegedly “refused to give him higher rank and promotion”

“At present, respondents still refuses and continues to refuse honoring the post graduate students of MCC as far as their promotion and ranking is concerned,” the petition read.

DepEd-7 claimed that the MCC has no legal personality to operate due to lack of recognition from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The school questioned the order before the court citing the “recognition of programs” of their school was covered by Batas Pambansa 232 otherwise known as Education Act of 1982.

The CHED ordered the closure of the MCC in 2010 under the administration of Dr. Paulus Maria Cañete due to the alleged failure to comply with its directive.--  (FREEMAN)