Rap vs Alaminos execs dismissed

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The provincial board has dismissed an administrative case filed against Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza for operating a state college campus, citing its lack of jurisdiction over component cities.

Board Member Alfonso Bince said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved on July 18 the recommendation of the committee on accountability of public officials to dismiss the case filed by Ruben Morante, president of Pangasinan Accountancy and Science School College, against Braganza.

Bince, who represents the sixth district, chairs the committee.

Morante accused Alaminos City of investing and operating the Alaminos campus of Pangasinan State University (PSU) since 2010 without permit.

Because of the jurisdictional quandary, Bince said the SP would be unable to sanction or discipline the Alaminos government if evidence points to an infraction.

It advised Morante to file his complaint instead in the Office of the President or “to try to reach a settlement because the (issue) is affecting the educational program of Alaminos City,” he said.

Morante plans to raise his complaint to President Aquino, Bince said.

When reached by the Inquirer, Morante declined to discuss his reactions by phone.

Braganza said the board’s decision was “a huge victory for me and the hundreds of our scholars pursuing college education at the PSU-Alaminos and the other thousands who will come after them.”

PSU-Alaminos opened in June 2010 to cater to poor students from the city and adjoining towns. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon