More city college officials face ax

MORE officials involved in the alleged anomalies at the Iloilo City Community College (ICCC) might be removed depending on the result of the investigation, according to the City Legal Office.

Atty. Ruledo Dela Cruz, officer-in-charge of the City Legal Office, said that aside from ICCC Administrator Maria Mathilde Treñas-Octavio who was already relieved from her post, the name of Supervising Admin Officer Jose Renan Escoto also appeared in the complaints.

“With respect to the other personalities at the ICCC, we could possibly recommend to the mayor proper actions for the investigation to be effective,” Dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz is part of the ad hoc committee created by Mayor Jose Espinosa III last Aug 31, 2018 to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the alleged anomalies at the ICCC.

The committee was tasked to look into the complaints filed by four ICCC teachers relative to the alleged non-implementation of the Magna Carta for Teachers particularly on salaries; promotion and regularization of unqualified teachers; substandard salaries; realignment of budgets; and use of obsolete school equipment particularly books, among others.

The committee earlier recommended the relief of Octavio “to give way to the smooth and unhampered access to official records and documents.”

“If we look at the complaint, Mr. Escoto was mentioned. But we still have to check the details and complaints against him. In the meantime, there is no sanction or order for him. It will depend on the outcome of the initial investigation and the evidences gathered,” he added.

The result of the investigation will depend on the cooperation of resource persons and availability of documents, Dela Cruz said.

Octavio’s return to the ICCC will also depend on the fact-finding investigation.

Dela Cruz reiterated the words of Mayor Espinosa that the investigation is free of politics.

Octavio is a cousin of Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, Espinosa’s ally-turned-political rival.

Dela Cruz said they only acted on the complaints, which were referred by the Office of the Ombudsman to the Office of the Mayor for proper action.

“To be fair to Octavio, we made such recommendation in order to avoid doubts on the investigation,” he said.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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