Vitriolo’s Letter to the President on CHED
The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) executive director Julito Vitriolo, the highest-ranking career executive in the commission, wrote to the President asking for the appointment of an officer-in-charge (OIC) who can serve as the President’s alter ego at the agency.
This is a reproduction of a part of the letter of Vitriolo to the President, reproduced from the Rappler’s Newscast video published 11 December 2016. The Office of the Cabinet Secretary stamped the letter received on 9 December 2016.
Republic of the Philippines
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
December 8, 2016
HIS EXCELLENCY RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
PRESIDENT
Republic of the Philippines
Malacañan Palace
THRU: HON. SALVADOR MEDIALDEA
Dear PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Greetings of peace and good health!
I am Atty. Julito D. Vitriolo, presently the Executive Director IV of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and as the highest ranking career executive service officer in the Commission and head of the Commission Secretariat, with more than 32 years of service in the said agency, I write in behalf of the career and non-career officials and staff on URGENT matters gravely affecting the agency as a consequence of the banning/barring/removal of Dr. Licuanan in the DUTERTE Cabinet.
The recent events and circumstances would show, to my mind and to many of the CHED officials and staff I have talked to, that Dr. Licuanan can no longer be effective in view of irreconcilable differences as well as her failure to tender her courtesy resignation which is tantamount to gross insubordination as mandated by MC 4, thus, constituting serious grounds for the loss of trust and confidence in her as cabinet secretary. Mr. President, we believe that YOUR action in BANNING/BARRING her from attending cabinet meetings or being part of YOUR cabinet is not only tantamount to loss of trust and confidence in her as your ~ALTER EGO~ which implies that her future actions can no longer be presumed as your very own acts or mandates, but also REMOVAL from office arising from the nature of the position as a cabinet member ~who serves at the pleasure of the President~ and subject to your plenary and illimitable power of control, appointment and removal pursuant to the Constitution.
Thus, this letter humbly requesting guidance on how we, the officials and staff of CHED, shall relate with Dr. Licuanan in view of the foregoing circumstances indicating that she might no longer possesses the authority to govern the agency, thus, ~USURPING THE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF THE CHED CHAIRMANSHIP~, and further putting the plans and programs of the DUTERTE administration, the operations of the CHED as an agency, the welfare of its stakeholders as well as the use of government funds, in GRAVE PERIL AND PREJUDICE.
Today, Mr. President we humbly pray that your good office will now intercede to protect the interest of the vast majority of the men and women of the CHED against the stubborn and recalcitrant self-interest of just one person, who is not even an elected official, and continues her refusal to obey your LEGITIMATE, FAIR AND REASONABLE ORDER with impunity and in disregard also of the time-honored principle of DELICADEZA.