CEBU, Philippines - With the controversy surrounding the leadership of the Talisay City College, who is entitled to receive the salary of the school president within the contested period?
The questions surfaced yesterday following the claim of Dr. Paulus Mariae Cañete that his contract as TCC president was valid until December 2014.
In a weekly Tapok-Tapok sa Sugbo Media Forum, Cañete said appointing a new TCC president would be breach of his contract.
“It (contract) has to be nullified and only the court can nullify the contract,” he said.
Cañete said it is up to the Talisay City Accounting Office whom to pay the salary of TCC president.
Last February, Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, in his capacity as TCC Board of Trustees chairman, appointed Cañete as head of the college, replacing former city administrator Ritchel Bacaltos, who questioned the move.
Since then, the college has been caught in the middle of a tug-of-war not only in the leadership of the school but even in its graduation rites and its enrolment.
The BOT then unanimously appointed Commission on Higher Education CHED-7 Director Freddie Bernal as the next president.
Before classes started, though, Bernal was forced to quit after CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan denied the request for him to take over leadership of the school.
Bernal then temporarily appointed as officer-in-charge Dr. Joseph Sol Galleon, the associate dean of Cebu Normal University whose appointment the BOT concurred with.
A week after, Galleon quit the job, citing his failing health.
Last June 27, the BOT appointed Dr. Ester Velasquez as the new college president during a meeting held at the CHED-7 office in Lahug, Cebu City.
Velasquez, who became the second CNU president in 2000, was appointed to hold the position until such time that the BOT screening committee would have identified the permanent president of the city college.
Cañete believed Velasquez would not stay long at the TCC. — (FREEMAN)