PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is merely being “gentleman” when he let Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairperson Patricia Licuanan to attend the previous Cabinet meetings, despite the order for her to submit courtesy resignation, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
“The President is somehow a gentlemen,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, in relation to Licuanan's participation in the Cabinet meetings despite 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.
Abella said Licuanan is yet to file her resignation letter to the Office of the President.
Last August 22, the President ordered all public officials appointed during the Aquino administration to tender their resignation within seven days.
Palace had said presidential appointees who will refuse to submit their respective resignation letters “may be held administratively liable and meted the appropriate penalty.”
Abella, however, did not mention what will be the appropriate actions of the Duterte administration on Licuanan’s refusal to quit Ched post.
Abella said that since Licuanan does not want to vacate her office, her fate will now depend on her performance as she supervises Ched.
“Apparently, there was no letter submitted from the Commissioner,” Abella said. “Let’s see how it unfolds. It all depends on how she performs.”
On Monday, Licuanan said she was barred from attending Cabinet meetings. She said 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. (Sunnex)
