Court stops appointment of university president

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila court has issued an order preventing the appointment of Amado Valdez as acting president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM).

In an order dated July 10, Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Vice Executive Judge Reynaldo Alhambra has issued a 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) in favor of current university president Artemio Tuquero, a former justice secretary and Court of Appeals justice.

Alhambra acted on the petition for injunction filed by Tuquero after four members of the PLM’s Board of Regents (BOR), led by Valdez as its chairman, recalled his election as university president.

In his petition, Tuquero questioned the BOR resolution dated July 8 recalling his election as the university president on the basis of the decision of Civil Service Commission.

Tuquero pointed out that the BOR resolution is null and void because it contravenes the provision under the PLM charter, which states that the university president shall be elected by the BOR and that he can only be removed for “incapacity, incompetence, dishonesty and/or conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude.”

Tuquero also accused the respondents of violating his right to due process.

He also contradicted an order by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada appointing Valdez, saying the university president is elected by the BOR and not appointed by the city mayor and that he “cannot be summarily removed by virtue of a hastily constituted board resolution.”

A hearing will be held tomorrow at the Manila RTC Branch 34 to determine if the TRO will be extended for 20 more days.