LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Embattled Benguet State University (BSU) president Ben D. Ladilad claimed the series of complaints filed against him before the Office of the President and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are obviously forum shopping, saying that he is optimistic he was able to address the issues raised against him through his counter-affidavit already filed before the said agencies.
For the past four years, Ladilad’s administration had been the subject of numerous cases filed by his detractors before various government agencies and the courts but most of such complaints were dismissed for alleged lack of evidence.
In his 53-age counter response, that attached resolved decisions, he highlighted on his arguments that the sole purpose of his detractors is personal hate against him and not for the good of BSU as what his detractors stated in their complaint. Also, most of the dismissed and resolved legal suits were counseled by persons who have alleged personal hate against him due to his insistent move of filing legal suits against him, which like dominos, one after the other, were dismissed by the lower courts.
Among his detractors were former employees Gloria Lee, Dominador Garin, Mando Catalino and then fellow BSU presidential candidate, Silvestre K Aben back in December 2012.
Said one of his first actions was not to sign the clearances of officials and employees with outstanding obligations with BSU, particularly those professors who went on schooling but did not complete their studies.
“When I assumed the position of the University President, I endeavored to resolve the problems with some of the University’s tenants who have failed to pay their due to the University. Needless to state, these tenants deprived the University for its income from the spaces and stalls. Among these tenants was Dontogan,” the letter reads.
In the case of Dominga Bagsiyao, she is among the several cases for cancellation of title filed in the effort to recover the University’s land reservation.
Further, the group even went to the office of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and submitted another letter arguing Ladilad’s allege abuse of presidential discretion in appointing employees, signing of MOAs with the long time tenants of BSU’ prime commercial areas without having passed through the BSU Board of Regents. Nevertheless, “Justice Delima must have found the complaint unsubstantial that no action was taken thereon,” the letter reads.
The group filed a complaint against him before the Civil Service Commission-Cordillera Administrative Region. They attached summary cases against Ladilad and cited the same allegations they submitted before the DOJ. However the CSC-CAR decided to dismissed the complaint in the absent of a prima facie evidence.
“The point driven at is that the complainants have already brought the issues in several fora/government agencies in their desperate attempt to oust me from my position as University President. Ladilad stressed that he have reasonable ground to believe that the instant complaint against him filed before the Office of the President is not a legitimate complaint of concerned employees and stakeholders of the BSU but another smear campaign launched against him by his detractors.
