UP Tacloban deanship issue reaches the court

TACLOBAN CITY — University of the Philippines (UP) president Francisco Nemenzo and the school’s board of regents are facing a case of abuse of authority and discretion with the regional trial court here over the selection for the new dean of UP Tacloban.

The case came as the UP search committee winded down its work with three nominees for the next UP-Tacloban dean set for final interview by Nemenzo.

The complainants alleged that Nemenzo, the UP regents and members of the search committee acted in an "arbitrary, capricious and despotic manner" when they approved the inclusion of Tacloban City councilor David Genotiva as a nominee.

They claimed that the nomination of Genotiva, a non-faculty member and who is holding a political office, violates the UP Code.

But the UP board of regents, in a decision, said that Genotiva may be nominated, being a former faculty member and as part of the school’s continuing efforts to "discover the best and the brightest for the university’s higher interests."

The board added that Genotiva may be asked to resign as city councilor if he is selected dean of UP Tacloban.

The complainants are professors Ladylyn Lim Mangada of the UP Pahinungod office, Joyce Dorado Alegre, Humanities Division head Stephen Lagarde, former dean Viola Siozon, Margarita de la Cruz of the Leyte-Samar Heritage Center, Marcelina Lerios of the Learning Resource Center, college secretary Virgildo Sabalo and Amy Exconde.