Dismissed CHED exec indicted for graft over ‘diploma mills’

A dismissed Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) official is facing graft charges for his alleged involvement in a diploma mill operation that allowed Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) to issue diplomas and transcripts to students enrolled in suspended degree programs in 2010.

Julito Vitriolo, former CHED executive director, was indicted on charges of violating Sections 3 (a) and 3 (e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in separate complaints by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The first complaint charged him with giving unwarranted benefits to two schools by “willfully, unlawfully and criminally” giving verbal permission to PLM to issue transcripts and diplomas to graduates of degree programs covered by a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between PLM and the National College of Physical Education (NCPE).

Vitriolo allegedly did so even with prior knowledge that the NCPE, which later changed its name to Integrated College of Physical Education and Sports, was no longer on CHEd’s list of accredited tertiary institutions.

The second complaint accused him of using his office to “persuade, induce and/or influence” PLM to issue the transcripts and diplomas.

Vitriolo had maintained that PLM could still issue transcripts of records under the suspended MOA “based on vested rights.”

In January, Vitriolo was dismissed from the service for misconduct, neglect of duty and incompetence in connection with the diploma mill operation.

His dismissal came a month after he called for the replacement of CHEd Chair Patricia Licuanan in a manifesto to President Duterte. Licuanan had been barred from attending Cabinet meetings but she refused to step down from office.