Enrolment chaos boils at Talisay City College

CEBU, Philippines - Just when everyone thought the issue was resolved with the Civil Service Commission ruling to reinstate Tomas Ramos as president of the Talisay City College, the tug-of-war for the school’s leadership post resurfaced in time for enrolment.

While the court is yet to issue an order enforcing the CSC decision, the two factions in the school headed by Ramos’ supposed successors – Richel Bacaltos and Dr. Paulus Maria Cañete – have put up separate enrolment desks in campus.

This setup has reportedly caused confusion especially among incoming freshmen students.

Cañete’s camp has positioned its enrolment desk at the school’s entrance while Bacaltos’ group has set up an enrolment desk at the second floor of the school building.

“These two enrolments happening here at the Talisay City College will certainly create chaos. Masundan pa gyud ni og duha ka entrance exam, duha ka sectioning and loading ug uban pa,” Bacaltos said.

It was the TCC Board of Trustees that backed Bacaltos’ appointment while Cañete was appointed by Talisay City Mayor Johnny Delos Reyes purposely to replace Bacaltos.

The situation was never peaceful ever since.

Yesterday, Bacaltos argued that the mayor should direct Cañete to respect the decision of the TCC Board that he is the duly appointed acting president of the school and that the students must approach him.

So far, close to 800 freshmen students have enlisted with Bacaltos camp and are set to take their entrance examination next week. Close to 500 students have enlisted with Cañete’s camp.

Court Battle

As this was happening in Talisay City, Judge Estela Alma Singco of the Regional Trial Court denied Delos Reyes’ petition for the court to dismiss Bacaltos’ case, which the latter filed purposely to stop Cañete from sitting as president.

In a four-page order, Singco ruled that Bacaltos has a cause of action to file the case.

Delos Reyes moved for the dismissal of Bacaltos’ case on the grounds that the verification is defective as it violates Section 4 of Rule 7of the Rules of Court and Bacaltos has no legal capacity to file charges.

Section 4 (Verification) states that a pleading is verified by an affidavit that the affiant (a person who signs an affidavit) has read the pleading and that the allegations therein are true and correct of his personal knowledge or based on authentic records.

Cañete, for his part, said Bacaltos has no cause of action against him. He alleged Bacaltos lacks the essential credentials and qualifications to hold the position of officer-in-charge or acting president of TCC.

Bacaltos denied the allegations. He claimed that he complied with the requirement substantially under Section 4 of Rule 7 of the Rules of Court. He said Delos Reyes is a “necessary party” in the case because it was him who appointed Cañete as acting president of TCC.

The court, at least on Delos Reyes’ petition, sided with Bacaltos.

Here, the court is satisfied that petitioner has complied with the requirement of Section 4 of Rule 7 of the Rulers of Court as the verification actually stated that it was based on petitioner’s owned personal knowledge and beliefs based and on authentic documents records,” the order reads.

Singco also said Delos Reyes is a necessary party in the case because he appointed Cañete. — /JMO (FREEMAN)