(UPDATED)- Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairperson Patricia Licuanan resigned Monday, January 15, to heed Malacañang's purported call for her resignation following allegations of corruption.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said President Rodrigo Duterte will accept Licuanan's resignation, which was received around 8 a.m. Monday.
Roque, however, could not confirm the reported phone call of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, asking Licuanan to resign.
"I wish to announce that the President has received the resignation of Ched chair Licuanan. It will be accepted by the President," Roque said in a press conference Monday.
"He (Duterte) knows all about the allegations. It does not matter really what he says because chair Licuanan has resigned. All controversies about Licuanan will be rendered moot following her resignation.," he added.
Licuanan announced her resignation in a speech during the flag-raising ceremonies held at Ched earlier Monday.
Licuanan revealed that she received a phone call from Medialdea on the night of Sunday, January 14, asking her to step down from office.
She quit her post just six months before her term as Ched chair ends in July.
In her speech, Licuanan said "it is time to go," citing the apparent moves of some individuals who want her "out of Ched."
"It has become obvious that there are persons determined to get me out of Ched by hurling false and baseless accusations against me in what appears to be a fishing expedition and a well-orchestrated move in media," she said.
Licuanan was accused by Puwersa of Bayaning Atleta Partylist Representative Jericho Nograles of traveling abroad for eight times in 2017 without securing Malacañang's approval.
She, however, presented copies of the travel authority that she had secured from the President's office for all her foreign travels.
Nograles, for his part, said Licuanan did the right thing when she resigned to heed the call of Malacañang.
"Licuanan did the right thing. I thank her for her years of service for Ched," Nograles said.
The lawmaker said he will still pursue the fight for the K to 12 teacher-scholars who were supposed to benefit from the allegedly mismanaged P5.275-billion fund.
"I am certain that Congress will exercise its oversight powers to get to the bottom of this P5.275-billion mess," Nograles added.
The lawmaker earlier urged Licuanan to resign over Ched's failure to pay the stipends and tuition fees of Ched scholars from the P5.275-billion fund.
Prior to the said allegation, Nograles also accused Licuanan of approving her own requests for travel eight times in 2017.
He later admitted that he was wrong after Licuanan released copies of the official travel authority documents covering all her trips last 2017 from Malacañang, signed by Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
This was not the first time a government official was dismissed following excessive trips overseas.
Earlier this month, Duterte fired former Maritime Industry Authority administrator Marcial Amaro III because of excessive foreign travels.
Duterte also sacked former Dangerous Drugs Board chair Dionisio Santiago, former Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chair Terry Ridon, and former Development Academy of the Philippines president Elba Cruz for similar reasons. (SunStar Philippines)