MANILA-- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) reiterated Tuesday an order from the Office of the Ombudsman to serve the three-month suspension without pay of CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo for "simple misconduct".
The suspension order was endorsed by the Ombudsman to CHED on October 11, following a complaint filed by former CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan against Vitriolo.
In her complaint, Licuanan alleged that Vitriolo issued a memorandum recommending to CHED regional office the issuance of a Provisional Permit in favor of a private school contrary to the Commission en banc's resolution which disapproved said school’s application.
In its decision, the Ombudsman said “Vitriolo issued the Memorandum without due regard to the policies and guidelines of CHED".
The decision said Vitriolo "is hereby found guilty of Simple Misconduct and is meted the penalty of suspension from the service for three months without pay".
Vitriolo was previously dismissed by the Ombudsman for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty in a 2015 complaint filed by Oliver Felix, a former faculty member at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM).
Last September, a Supreme Court ruling upheld the Court of Appeals' decision to reinstate him as the CHED executive director. On Monday, Vitriolo held a press conference seeking his reinstatement as the commission's executive director.
In a statement, CHED said: “Atty. Julito D. Vitriolo’s press conference today is not sanctioned by the Commission and that the Ombudsman has already issued a suspension order on him effective Oct 11.” (PNA)
