Private school execs defy closure order, insist school is legal

COTABATO CITY -- The administrators of a private college here ordered closed by the local government unit for operating without a business permit, insisted on Thursday that the school is legal and has not violated any local law.

Conesa Alon Mamadra, registrar of the Mindanao Capitol Colleges, Inc. (MCCI), rejected claims by Aniceto Rasalan, secretary of Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, that the school has been operating without a license and the necessary papers.

“We are legal and we are operating normally,” Mamadra said, adding that the city business permit office is sitting on the school’s application.

She said the school is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 12 (Soccsksargen) and has documents to support her claim.

However, Rasalan said MCCI’s application for business permit still lacks supporting documents.

“Lack of accreditation from the CHED was one of the reasons why MCCI application for business permit remains unacted,” Rasalan said, referring to the CHED’s certificate of accreditation.

Rasalan said the school, located along Roman Vilo St., this city, also violated the local revenue code.

He said MCCI, a non-stock, non-profit corporation, has no license to operate as an educational institution.

Rasalan also said that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revoked its registration since 2003 for failure to comply with the requirements of the law, such as the submission of the General Information Sheet and Financial Statements since 1997.

The city government has ordered the MCCI closure on Monday but Mamadra said school officials have decided to push through with the regular class schedules while working on the business permits. (PNA)