SP urges CHED to check PSU Board’s Resolution to reappoint Buted

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The provincial board passed a resolution urging the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to look into the propriety of the passage of resolution reappointing Dr. Dexter R. Buted as the Pangasinan State University (PSU) president.

During the regular session on November 26, fourth district board member Jeremy Agerico B. Rosario expressed his disappointment over the passage of PSU Board of Regent Resolution No. 84, Series of 2018 entailing the reappointment of Dr. Buted for second term, subject to the attestation by the Civil Service Commission on its effectivity and validity.

Beleaguered and suspended Pangasinan State University
 President Dr. Dexter R. Buted.

In his message, BM Rosario urged CHED through Chairman Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera, III to make appropriate actions regarding the motion of Buted’s reappointment.

BM Rosario also bared compelling reasons of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan to oppose the reappointment of Dr. Buted, including:

1. Provincial Resolution No. 505-2016 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan dated October 17, 2016 declared Dr. Dexter R. Buted as Persona Non Grata in the Province of Pangasinan; and

2. A Decision of the Ombudsman in OMB-L-A-I6-0138 entitled, “Ricardo A. Tapia, Complainant, versus Dexter Buted and Marcelo Gutierrez, Jr., Respondents, for Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, Grave Misconduct and Oppression, found Respondents administratively liable for Oppression.

“As of this time, Dr. Buted is still serving the 9-month penalty suspension for his conviction in the said administrative case,” BM Rosario stated noting that the said suspension was implemented by the Board of Regents on April 30, 2018 and will last on January 2019.

Accordingly, the passage of the resolution stating Buted’s reappointment as PSU President for second term is in violation to Rule III, Section 5.1 (f) of the CHED Memorandum Order No. 16, S-2009 which states that state universities and colleges presidents who are undergoing evaluation for second term must not have been convicted of any administrative offense or crime.

As such, BM Rosario said, that CHED must look into this whether a person convicted of an administrative offense is qualified and eligible to serve for second term as per the PSU Board of Regent Resolution No. 84, Series of 2018. (Shiella Mae C. De Guzman)