Tawi-tawi state university head clings to position

The chancellor of Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) refused to yield his position at the school despite the designation of an officer in charge by the school president and a Supreme Court ruling that denied the chancellor’s petition to cling to his post.

The five-year term of office of lawyer Lorenzo Reyes as chancellor of MSU-TCTO expired on April 17, 2016, but MSU system president, Dr. Habib Macaayong, issued two orders designating Reyes as chancellor on “holdover capacity” until a successor is elected.

Macaayong, who is based in Marawi City, finally designated Aida Joe Hadji, professor and acting vice chancellor for research and extension of MSU-TCTO, as officer in charge in place of Reyes on Oct. 10. The order said the designation of Hadji “shall take effect immediately and remain in force until amended by Macaayong or a competent authority.”

On Oct. 19, however, the board of regents of MSU approved a resolution keeping Reyes in his position at the MSU-TCTO in an acting capacity, saying Reyes is “the most suitable, prepared and competent person with an approved rank of an associate professor,” and revoking the designation of Hadji as OIC chancellor.

Hadji sought to nullify the board resolution in a petition filed at the Regional Trial Court in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

In her petition, Hadji asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order against the board’s resolution that kept Reyes in his post.

Hadji, in her petition, said there was grave abuse of discretion on the part of the board when it passed the resolution.

“While it is admitted that the BOR (Board of Regents) is the highest policymaking body of MSU, the authority to issue designations in order to fill up temporary vacancies is vested in the MSU president and not with the BOR,” said Hadji in her petition.

According to documents furnished, although BOR has the power to appoint, it should “note” or accept the president’s designation. Reyes is also not on the shortlist of nominees submitted by former MSU president Macapado Muslim.

On Sept. 5, the Supreme Court First Division rendered final and executory a resolution denying two motions for reconsideration filed by BOR and Reyes.

The members of BOR, presided over by Commission on Higher Education Chair Patricia Licuanan, are Macaayong (vice chair), Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Ann Hofer, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Abdurrahman Canacan, Mario Aguja, Raffi Dimakuta, Sanchez Ali, Amina Rasul Bernardo, Ernesto del Mar Pernia, Zia-Ur Rahman Adiong, Dr. Sukarno Tanggol and Dr. Datumanong Sarangani.