COTABATO CITY, Philippines--The Commission on Higher Education officially installed Jesus Antonio Derije as the new president of the state-owned University of Southern Mindanao during rites on Monday in Quezon City, amid opposition to his election.

Derije, who won the presidency in a tight 6-5 vote against close rival, the incumbent USM vice president Palasig Ampang, has been deemed by USM faculty and staff "unfit" for the top post based on allegations against him of dishonesty and involvement in the 1989 cattle-rustling case in Kabacan town.

CHEd Chair Emmanuel Angeles, who swore in Derije as the successor of outgoing USM president Virgilio Oliva, said there was "no basis to stop the assumption of Doctor Derije (a veterinarian) because he was voted by the Board of Regents."

"He went through the selection process conducted by a committee," he said.

Earlier, Angeles ordered an investigation of the charges that the newly installed USM head falsified documents on the length of service he had as USM dean of veterinary medicine and his involvement in a theft of a cow that he and some USM fraternity members slaughtered nearly a decade ago.

North Cotabato Vice Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, a USM alumnus, who sent a letter of complaint in a form of a manifesto, addressed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and copy-furnished to the CHEd head, said his role as courier should not be construed as favoring one candidate to the USM post from the other.

"Whoever is installed should be cleared of charges and that's my only concern. I have no particular bet for the USM presidency," said Piñol, who earlier asked the authorities concerned to look into the complaints.

In his letter to Arroyo, a copy of which was given to Angeles, Piñol regarded the group's concerns as "legitimate and must be immediately addressed."

Derije denied the charges in a radio interview in Kidapawan City on Monday.