Duterte set to accept Licuanan’s resignation

FILE: President Rodrigo Duterte (PCOO PHOTO)

MANILA — Malacanang on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte has received and set to accept the resignation of Patricia Licuanan as chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“I wish to announce that the President has received the resignation of CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan and that it would be accepted by the President,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced during a regular Palace press briefing.

Contrary to Licuanan’s claim that Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea asked her to step down, Roque explained it was an act of resignation by the CHED chief.

“It was a decision of chairperson Licuanan herself,” Roque said.

When asked if Licuanan was the next chairman that Duterte wanted to remove due to corruption, Roque said the resignation has rendered moot all controversies about Licuanan.

“This was a resignation, an act of chairperson Licuanan herself. Her resignation has rendered all controversies being moot and I don’t feel compelled to issue any statement in that regard,” Roque said.

Roque said Duterte has noted all allegations, particularly excessive foreign trips, against the resigned CHED chairperson.

“Yes, of course, he knows about all the allegations,” he said.

Duterte has fired several officials over excessive foreign trips but Licuanan claimed she got travel authority for all of her eight foreign trips in 2017.

The President has earlier sacked Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Marcial Quirico Amaro III from his post due to excessive foreign trips.

Amaro had made 24 foreign travels in a span of 13 months or an average of two foreign trips per month.

To cut down extravagant and lavish foreign trips, Malacanang had issued guidelines to all government officials and personnel in the executive department applying for foreign travels.

Licuanan is the second top government official to step down after the resignation of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman Jose Jorge Elizalde Corpuz due to ‘health reasons’ last week.