COTABATO CITY ? The Commission on Higher Education officially installed on Monday Jesus Antonio Derije in Quezon City as president of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM).

Derije, who won the presidency in a tight 6-5 vote against close rival, the incumbent USM vice president Palasig Ampang, has been accused by USM faculty and staff as ?unfit? for the top post due to dishonesty and alleged involvement in a 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 case of cow theft that he and some USM fraternity members slaughtered nearly 10 years ago.

North Cotabato Vice Gov. Emmanuel Piñol, a USM alumnus, who sent a letter of complaint addressed to President Macapagal-Arroyo, said his role as courier should not be construed as favoring one 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 authorities to look into the complaints.

In his letter to Ms 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. Charlie C. Señase, Inquirer Mindanao with Edson Tandoc in Manila