The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of a ranking Commission on Higher Education (CHED) official for nepotism and grave misconduct.
The investigative body imposed the penalty on CHED Commissioner Jo Mark Libre. Other sanctions include the cancellation of his eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits except for accrued leave credits, and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in government service.
The Ombudsman made the ruling in response to a complaint filed against Libre over the nepotic appointment of his relatives to CHED under his immediate supervision.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Libre as commissioner on Feb. 9, 2022.
In 2019, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Davao Region also found Libre guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, fabrication of official documents, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.
Libre allegedly manipulated plane ticket prices for his and a colleague’s international travel in 2016.
Libre was subjected to penalties, including dismissal from service, cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and prohibition from taking any civil service examinations.
Libre was appointed CHED commissioner in February 2022. He became chair-designate in 24 BORs in different SUCs, mostly in Mindanao.
CHED chair J. Prospero De Vera III will take over the chairmanship in the Board of Regents (BOR) of a public tertiary school here and other Mindanao state college and universities (SUCs) after Libre’s dismissal.
In a memorandum dated Jan. 9 and circulated online on Tuesday, De Vera said he will personally sit as BOR chair of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines and five other SUCs.
As a result of Libre’s dismissal, De Vera and three other commissioners divided the chairmanship of the 24 SUCs.
The CSC upheld its 2019 decision but excluded falsification of official documents as it was already included in the serious dishonesty offense.