DAVAO Region’s Commission on Higher Education (Ched) director Raul Alavrez Jr. signed a manifesto of support for President Rodrigo Duterte's move versus Ched chair Patricia Licuanan together with 16 other Ched regional and central office directors.
In a letter, dated December 12, the 17 Ched officials ask the President to appoint a chairperson "of (his) own choice" and fill the vacancies for three other commissioners.
"We, affirm that the Ched is an important agency of the government in charge of the higher education sector and crucial in the development of human resource needed by a country for greater development, thus, should be continuously represented in the Cabinet by a head who enjoys the trust and confidence of the president and who shares his principles, values, style of leadership and perspective," read the manifesto.
The letter came days after Ched released a statement "clarifying" matters about the president's desist order.
Signed for the commission by Licuanan, the statement said Ched "has functioned effectively even without being part of the president's Cabinet," as the case during the time of former President Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In a separate letter, addressed to the president, through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Ched Executive Director Julito Vitriolo asked Duterte to place an officer-in-charge.
Vitriolo said the move is "to stabilize the situation in the commission and thus gain back its credibility and respect from stakeholders."
Last week, Licuanan said she was barred from attending Cabinet meetings, adding she would respect Duterte’s decision for her not to join the meeting but stressed that she would continue her work as chairperson of Ched.
Earlier this year, President issued a memorandum requesting all presidential appointees from the past administration to resign.
Licuanan is an appointee of the previous administration and is on a fixed term until 2018.