Duterte appoints De Vera CHED OIC; Paras is DOLE Usec

DE VERA

President Duterte has tasked Prospero de Vera to serve as officer in charge of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) following the resignation of its chair, Patricia Licuanan, earlier this month.

A memorandum, dated Jan. 24, from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said De Vera’s designation as officer in charge was effective immediately.

Medialdea said De Vera was chosen by the President to ensure the continuous operations of CHED, which is tasked to promote relevant and quality higher education, and ensure this is accessible to all.

De Vera had been serving as one of the commissioners prior to his new appointment.

Licuanan, whose second four-year term would have ended in July, earlier said she resigned after getting a call from Medialdea asking her to go.

Allegations

This came amid allegations that she went on foreign trips without authorization from Malacañang, a claim she denied  as she raised the possibility that there were people trying to destroy her reputation.

“It has become obvious that there are persons determined to get me out of CHED by hurling false and baseless accusations against me in what appears to be a fishing expedition and a well-orchestrated move in media,” she had said.

Plum post

She nevertheless decided to resign as her continued presence in the agency would be inimical to the institution, she said.

The President also gave former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras a plum post in the administration, appointing him undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Paras, a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, has filed complaints against several government officials.

Last October, he brought an administrative complaint against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang before the Office of the President for allegedly disclosing details of Mr. Duterte’s supposed bank accounts.

The President also named  Arnell Ignacio, one of his most ardent supporters during the presidential campaign, to a post at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa).

Ignacio was appointed deputy executive director V on Jan. 23.

Prior to getting the Owwa post, Ignacio headed the community relations and services department of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.