BONTOC, Mountain Province – Eight embattled faculty members of the State-run Mountain Province State polytechnic College (MPSPC) were dismissed from the service after the Civil Service (CSC) en banc denied their motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse an earlier decision finding them guilty of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and insubordination for lack of merit.
Those who were dismissed from the service were Terence Leif Fangasan, Peter Puma-at, Jayson A. Omaweng, Charlie Wrykan S. Engngeg, Nellie B. Diaz, Beverly Ann B. Chaokas, Daniela P. Chumacog and Angelita D. Bayle, all faculty members of the higher education institution who were also imposed the accessory penalties of cancellation of their respective eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, except leave credits and personal contributions with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) if any, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and barred from taking civil service examination.
In denying the motion for reconsideration of the initial batch of dismissed MPSPC faculty members, the CSC ruled administrative cases are independent from criminal proceedings and the dismissal of a criminal case on the ground of insufficiency of evidence or acquittal of an accused who is also a respondent in an administrative case does not necessarily foreclose the administrative proceedings nor carries with it relief from administrative liability because unlike in criminal cases which require proof beyond reasonable doubt, the quantum of proof required in administrative proceedings is substantial evidence.
The CSC found the motions for reconsideration of the dismissed faculty members not meritorious as it noted that their arguments raised were practically a rehash of the very same arguments which had already been judiciously passed upon and resolved by the Commission in the decision sought to be reconsidered.
On December 8, 2014, the CSC-CAR found twelve employees of the MPSPC guilty of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and insubordination for their alleged direct involvement on the July 1, 2011 siege at the MPSPC Bontoc campus that sought to topple the administration of former MPSPC president Nieves A. Dacyon.
The CSC-CAR imposed upon the twelve faculty members the penalty of dismissal from the service with all its accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, except leave credits and personal contributions to the GSIS, if any, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and barred from taking civil service examinations.
The CSC-CAR decision was upheld by the Commission en banc on April 19, 2016 considering that the appeal of the complainants were lack of merit.
On December 1, 2011, Dacyon filed a complaint with the CSC-CAR against the twelve MPSPC faculty members alleging among others that they were mounting a verification campaign engaging, instigating and participating in protests or mass concerted actions that resulted in the stoppage, disruption of public service, causing grave damage to school and government properties and forcing her to resign her post as College President.
The decision on the motion for reconsideration of Dan Evert Sokoken, Sr., Dario F. Guinayen, Eric F. Fulangen and Brueckner B. Aswigue by the CSC en banc is being awaited for the execution of their dismissal from service. By HENT