CTU president ordered dismissed for grave misconduct

Local

THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Cebu Technological University (CTU) President Joseph Pepito after finding him liable for grave misconduct and dishonesty.

This concludes a months-long investigation triggered by a complaint from a former university official.

In a 16-page decision, the Ombudsman ruled that Pepito, who assumed office as CTU president in 2023, illegally designated personnel to key administrative posts and falsely claimed to be a resource speaker in a 2019 training to boost his academic ranking.

The Ombudsman said these acts constituted “grave misconduct and dishonesty,” offenses punishable by dismissal from service.

The decision stemmed from a complaint filed by former Administration Officer Atty. Joelie Marie Medalle, who accused Pepito of irregular designations, misrepresentation of credentials, attempts to influence an investigation, and other administrative violations.

The Ombudsman, however, dismissed charges of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming of a public official, grave abuse of authority, oppression, gross neglect of duty, and incompetence.

Central to the Ombudsman’s ruling was Pepito’s issuance of two designations for the post of Officer-in-Charge, Chief Administrative Office (CAO) for Administration — first to Executive Assistant Rodmarc Sanchez, who holds a coterminous (non-career) appointment, and later to Dr. Amelia Girly Aranas.

The Ombudsman noted that both designations violated the Civil Service Commission’s 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions, which require that a designated employee must hold a permanent appointment to a career position.

The decision emphasized that Pepito's actions also defied the express conditions of CTU Board Resolution No. 49, series of 2024, which allowed him to designate an OIC–CAO “subject to the confirmation and/or approval of the board, subject further to usual government rules and regulations.”

The Ombudsman stressed that no such confirmation or approval was ever issued by the Board of Regents.

The ruling stated:

“Respondent Pepito, who issued the designation, must take accountability for his willful disregard of this basic civil service policy and unequivocal language of board resolution requiring confirmation/approval from the CTU Board of Regents.”

The Ombudsman also found substantial evidence that Pepito committed dishonesty by declaring himself a resource speaker during the October 2019 Arduino Training, even though records showed he was merely a participant.

The decision noted that Pepito used the false speakership entry in his Individual Summary Sheet for ranking purposes and did not refute the allegation in his counter-affidavit.

“Respondent Pepito is also liable for Dishonesty by claiming as a resource speaker during the Arduino Training when, in fact, he was not a resource person during that training,” the Obmbudsman ruled.

Medalle had also alleged that Pepito attempted to influence the investigation of this dishonesty case. While the Ombudsman acknowledged a Board resolution invalidating the earlier probe for technical reasons, it noted that Pepito did not address the accusation directly and that the dishonesty allegation remained “uncontroverted.”

The Ombudsman dismissed other allegations raised by Medalle, including: questioning the legitimacy of Pepito’s election as CTU president, claiming irregularity in the handling of travel expenses, alleging abuse of authority in the issuance of Memorandum PC05-103, s. 2024 on trip tickets and fuel workflows, and reopening the selection process for private sector representatives to the CTU Board of Regents

These were deemed unsubstantiated, self-serving, or within the legal authority of the university president.

The Ombudsman also dismissed the complaint against Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Jerlito Letrondo and Executive Assistant Sanchez for lack of substantial evidence.

Pepito was meted the penalty of “dismissal from service,” which carries the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from public office, and bar from taking civil service examinations.

As of press time, CTU has yet to issue an official statement.(TGP)