Ombudsman suspends 3 principals

Three principals of public high schools were ordered placed under six months preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman as they are being investigated for graft.

Ordered placed under preventive suspension were principals Eleanor Abisado of the Taguig National High School in Taguig City, Virginia Bermudez of the Ramon Avancena High School in Manila, and Helen Aggabao of Olongapo City National School.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered them suspended without pay pending the completion of investigation against them.

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the cases against the three principals were filed by the Ombudsman’s "Task Force Sapak (Sama-samang Paglaban sa Katiwalian para sa Kabataan)," headed by Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni.

Abisado, Bermudez and Aggabao were charged with graft, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, oppression and dishonesty.

An additional administrative complaint for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service was also lodged against Bermudez while Aggabao also faces two additional charges of falsification and violation of Commission on Audit rules and regulation.

The cases against the three school officials stemmed from separate complaints filed by an official and an employee of the Taguig National High School.

According to the complaint, Abisado allegedly took advantage of her position to enrich herself by facilitating the illegal collection of fees. In addition, she also allegedly certified a bookkeeper and two utility workers as members of the teaching staff in order for them to get honoraria.

Bermudez on the other hand was accused of committing irregularities in the disbursement of P96,000, that was given by the city government of Manila to cover for the transportation and meal allowances of students participating in the opening and closing of the South East Asian Games in 2005.

Aggabao, the Ombudsman said, had collected mandatory school fees and contributions from the students and canteen owners who have stalls within the school.

She had also allegedly charged students, who used computers that have been donated to the school by a congressman. In addition, Aggabao is also accused of putting up and operating a nursery school within the school compound, where she charged students P6,000 each, the Office of the Ombudsman said.

Members of the task force, which was formed principally to address problems and concerns of corruption in public schools, said that they have so far received 72 complaints, of which 12 have been terminated, 34 still undergoing fact-finding investigations and 28 under preliminary investigation.