Principal fired for grave misconduct

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Education has finally implemented the order of the Ombudsman dismissing from service a public school principal from Liloan town who was found guilty of an administrative case for grave misconduct.

Assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago said they were informed by the DepEd of the implementation of the order against Dr. Epitacio Mendoza of the Liloan Central Elementary School.

The anti-graft office ordered last July 28, 2004 for the dismissal of Mendoza from service after he was found guilty of grave misconduct. The order was not immediately implemented by the DepEd because the respondent questioned the decision before the Court of Appeals.

However, the 18th Division of the appellate court affirmed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

In a 12-page decision penned by associate justice Franchito Diamante the appellate court dismissed Mendoza’s petition for certiorari and denied his prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order to prevent the anti-graft office from enforcing its decision.

The case stemmed from a complaint for grave misconduct filed by Ma. Teresa Singuran, a public school teacher, against Mendoza in 2003.

Singuran, in her complaint, said she was designated as the teacher-in-charge of two public schools in Liloan. One of her teachers was reassigned to the central school prompting her to request for a replacement from the division office.

Singuran said that she was advised by the assistant division superintendent to see Mendoza, who was then the principal of the school where one of her teachers was reassigned.

On June 24, 2003, Singuran said she visited Mendoza in his office but to her surprise the latter raised his voice at her and even struck her with a plastic chair. Mendoza also accused her of stealing his cellular phone.

The anti-graft office found the complaint meritorious and considering that it was not the first time that Mendoza was complained of misconduct, graft investigators imposed upon him the highest penalty of dismissal from service.

The court held that under the Civil Service Law and its implementing rules, the charges against Mendoza is a grave offense punishable by dismissal from service. — Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)