City college probe free of political color – mayor

ILOILO City Mayor Jose Espinosa III said he is careful with his actions and words on issues thrown at the Iloilo City Community College (ICCC) to avoid accusations of politicking.

Maria Mathilde Treñas-Octavio, a cousin of Iloilo City Lone district Rep. Jerry Treñas, heads the city government-run college as administrator.

Espinosa and Treñas are brothers-in-law or mag-bilas since their wives are sisters. They used to be the closest of political allies but they are expected to face off in the 2019 mayoral election.

Espinosa said he is only responding to complaints against the city college.

“Politics has no part in this problem. Kung ano ang aksyon naton, tugod kay ginapangayo sang pumuluyo,” he said.

“But I am just very careful because we might be accused of politicking. Because we are aware of the relationships of the personnel involved,” he added.

Espinosa said he would be meeting with the City Legal Office to verify the legality of Octavio’s position as college administrator.

During the hearing conducted by the Committee of the Whole of the City Council on August 20, 2018 relative to the alleged mismanagement of the ICCC, Councilor Plaridel Nava questioned Octavio’s appointment as administrator.

Nava, author of Regulation Ordinance 2011-275 that created the city college, said the ordinance is silent on the position of a college administrator.

The ordinance only provided the creation of the Board of Trustees, the Academic Council, and the Dean of Instruction.

Mayor Espinosa chairs the board while City Councilor Lady Julie Grace Baronda is a member being the chair of the Committee on Education, Science & Technology.

Other members of the board are the college president, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-6 regional director, the president of the faculty association, president of the Supreme Student Government/Council, the president of the alumni association, the representative of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU) in Iloilo City, and four prominent citizens of Iloilo City appointed by the City Mayor, who are not occupying government positions in another educational institution.

Octavio said former city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog appointed her as ICCC administrator.

The controversies at the ICCC have reached the Office of the Ombudsman, Espinosa said.

He added that the Ombudsman has sent him a letter asking about the complaints against the city college.

Espinosa said he is determining if there is a need for Octavio to take a leave of absence while the investigation is ongoing.

During the hearing, complainants Anelyn A. Janaban, Maria Fe Alejandria, Rezlie L. Marinez, and Arthur C. Soqueña alleged that the college does not implement the Magna Carta for Teachers, particularly on salaries, promotion and regularization of unqualified teachers, and budget realignment.

They also claimed that the college uses obsolete books.

The complainants added that some qualified faculty members, who have been serving the college for more than three years, were not promoted.

They further alleged that Octavio is using job hires to repair and transport items and appliances to her apartment.

Octavio denied the allegations saying these are “blatant lies”, “false allegations,” and “an attempt to malign” her.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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