By Czarina Nicole Ong KiÂ
The Office of the Ombudsman has issued a three-month suspension order against former Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Executive Director Julito Vitriolo after he was found guilty of simple misconduct.
Julito Vitriolo
(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In a decision signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on October 4 and released on October 11, Vitriolo was ordered suspended from service for three months without pay. In case the penalty cannot be enforced against Vitriolo due to his separation from service, the penalty will be a fine equivalent to his latest salary for three months. It may be deducted from his retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or other receivables from office. The complaint against Vitriolo stemmed from his issuance of a memorandum dated June 4, 2004, which recommended to CHED Region IV-B Director, Dr. Rita Ortiz, the issuance of a Provisional Permit in favor of St. Anthony College of Science and Technology (SACST) to offer the 1st and 2nd year levels of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for school year 2004-2005. However, this went against CHED En Banc Resolution No. 238-2004, which disapproved the school's application. The complainant, CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan in a statement, said that Vitriolo had the audacity to cite the resolution and make it appear that CHED approved the application of SACST, when in truth; their application was disapproved for failure to comply with the requirements for the BSN course. In its decision, the Ombudsman said it is "glaring" that the challenged memorandum recommending the issuance of a provisional permit in favor of SACST was signed by Vitriolo only. "In fact, there is no evidence to show that the other members of the Appeals Committee concurred with respondent's recommendation. Neither was there any proof that the Appeals Committee, indeed, deliberated on the appeal of SACST," the decision read. "Indubitably, Vitriolo issued the memorandum without due regard to the policies and guidelines of CHED. He failed to observe that degree of circumspection expected of him as a member of the Appeals Committee," it added. Read more:Â CHED confirms Ombudsman order to suspend former official
Julito Vitriolo(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In a decision signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on October 4 and released on October 11, Vitriolo was ordered suspended from service for three months without pay. In case the penalty cannot be enforced against Vitriolo due to his separation from service, the penalty will be a fine equivalent to his latest salary for three months. It may be deducted from his retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or other receivables from office. The complaint against Vitriolo stemmed from his issuance of a memorandum dated June 4, 2004, which recommended to CHED Region IV-B Director, Dr. Rita Ortiz, the issuance of a Provisional Permit in favor of St. Anthony College of Science and Technology (SACST) to offer the 1st and 2nd year levels of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for school year 2004-2005. However, this went against CHED En Banc Resolution No. 238-2004, which disapproved the school's application. The complainant, CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan in a statement, said that Vitriolo had the audacity to cite the resolution and make it appear that CHED approved the application of SACST, when in truth; their application was disapproved for failure to comply with the requirements for the BSN course. In its decision, the Ombudsman said it is "glaring" that the challenged memorandum recommending the issuance of a provisional permit in favor of SACST was signed by Vitriolo only. "In fact, there is no evidence to show that the other members of the Appeals Committee concurred with respondent's recommendation. Neither was there any proof that the Appeals Committee, indeed, deliberated on the appeal of SACST," the decision read. "Indubitably, Vitriolo issued the memorandum without due regard to the policies and guidelines of CHED. He failed to observe that degree of circumspection expected of him as a member of the Appeals Committee," it added. Read more:Â CHED confirms Ombudsman order to suspend former official