College officials quit jobs together

CEBU, Philippines - Three deans, one director for legal affairs and a professor of the Mandaue City College run by Dr. Paulus Mariae Cañete have withdrawn their support to their president.

In his Facebook account, Dr. Emedio Bustillo, the business administration dean, posted their withdrawal of support against Cañete, who is the president of the said school.

"We, the faculty members/academic deans/college admin, do hereby withdraw our support from the college president of the Mandaue City College and hereby tender our irrevocable mass resignation due to serious and unbearable strained relationship with the members of the academic and administrative corps, resulting to the impossibility from the accomplishment of the school's vision and mission and of our noble duties and responsibilities," the outgoing officials said in their letter.

They also appealed to the Board of Trustees of the said institution, as well as to the city government, Association of Local Colleges and Universities and the provincial and district representatives to make necessary board actions and resolutions on the possibilities with negotiating with the Commission on Higher Education, Professional Regulation Commission and Department of Education to take legal remedies for the interest and welfare of the students and graduates of the school.

The said withdrawal of support was signed by Bustillo; Dr. Benjamin Luague, dean  of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Nelson Ducay, dean of Criminology; Professor Jefbec Coca, legal affairs director; and Professor Luz Batobalonos.

In an interview, Bustillo said the withdrawal of support came after they requested for several changes and transparency for the Cañete-run MCC.

He said several weeks have passed but there were no changes being instituted.

When sought for reaction, Cañete said that the reason for their resignation was mere "sour-graping."

Canete said that Bustillo's group wants to ask for more, which the school is not capable of giving.

"They should not also dictate because their job is more on the academics and not on administration," Cañete said.

"If your friend can't give in to what you want, imo diay’ng i-sacrifice inyong friendship?"Canete said.

He added that the group is not a loss to the school because they only became officials of the school because of friendship and not because of their capability to run the department.

 "Kahibalo na man na sila daan nga way sweldo-sweldo, busa bitaw atong amigo atong gikuha kay aron mosabot sa sitwasyon," Cañete stressed.

He said at present, there are 10 courses offered by the school which has a population of 800 students.

The school has been transferring from one campus to another after its former campus in Barangay Ibabao was padlocked by the city government while their former campus in Barangay Tipolo was padlocked by CHED.

Reports said CHED did not  recognize the school's existence for its lack of necessary permits to operate a school.

Cañete was once the president of the original Mandaue City College, the one run by the city government, however, his services as president of that MCC was terminated by the city for his alleged lack of transparency in running the school.

But instead of giving up the post, he continued to run a separate school which he still named as MCC.

At present there are two MCCs in Mandaue City; one is located at the back of the City Sports and Cultural Center which is run by the city government and another run by Cañete with its own campus in Barangay Canduman. (FREEMAN)