Duterte accepts Licuanan’s resignation as CHEd chair

President Rodrigo Duterte accepted on Monday the resignation of Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairperson Patricia Licuanan, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

According to Roque, the Office of the President received around 8 a.m. Licuanan’s resignation letter through e-mail.

“I wish to announce that the President has received the resignation of CHEd chair Licuanan and that it would be accepted by the President,” he said.

The Palace official declined to answer whether it was Licuanan whom the President has referred to as the chairman he was supposed to fire soon.

“Her resignation has rendered all controversies being moot and I don’t feel compelled to issue any statement on that regard,” he said.

“It was a decision of Chair Licuanan herself,” he added.

Earlier in the day, in a prepared statement she read following the flag raising ceremony at the CHEd main office in Quezon City, Licuanan announced that “it is time to go.”

She said that she received a call from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea over the weekend asking her to resign from her office.

READ: Licuanan resigns as CHEd chair

“While my term by law ends in July 2018, I have decided it is time to go,”   she said.

While “vehemently” denying the accusations against her, Licuanan said “It is time to resign as my continued presence in CHED is inimical to the interest of the institution.”

Licuanan resigned from her post amid questions raised on her foreign trips allegedly even without the authorization of Malacañang, as well as accusations of mismanagement and corruption on the K to 12 Transition Program.

“I must strongly denounce malicious allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds. It has been my personal commitment to stamp out corruption in CHED since day one, despite the odds and the strong resistance. The K to 12 Transition Program has been implemented with the highest level of ethical stewardship and every peso is accounted for,” she said.       /kga