JVR orders key Talisay College offices boarded up

The office of the Talisay College president occupied by Richel Bacaltos was boarded up at midnight yesterday to the surprise of his staff. (CDN Photo/Tonee Despojo)

BOTH offices of the Talisay City College officer-in-charge and registrar were boarded up at midnight yesterday upon orders of Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. delos Reyes.

Acting Talisay City College president Richel Bacaltos and his staff said they were surprised by what happened considering that his complaint concerning his dismissal from service remains pending in court.

Dr. Emedio Bustillo, Dr. Elmer Repalda and Dr. Russel Fullozos went to the Talisay City Police Office to notify them about the closure of the offices as per instruction of the City Administrator’s Office and the City Legal Office.

Dr. Bustillo, the designated spokesperson of Talisay City College president Dr. Paulus Cañete, told reporters that the mayor ordered them to close the two offices because he doesn’t recognize Bacaltos as the school president anymore.

He said policemen were detailed at the campus to prevent Bacaltos from entering.

Evaluation

Bustillo said if Bacaltos insists on opening the office then he risks being charged in court.

Dr. Bustillo said the graduation rites won’t be a problem because they already have the records of the graduating students.

Bacaltos said he already consulted his lawyer on what to do.  He said he was just worried about the status of the graduating students since he already started the evaluation of each student.

Bacaltos said he’s willing to step down if the Board of Trustees (BOT) passes a resolution appointing another person as president.

Flak

City Legal Officer Alfredo Sipalay said the closure was ordered by the mayor after he learned that Bacaltos refused to turn over his office to Dr. Cañete and instead filed charges against him and Cañete.

The Talisay City College dispute has drawn flak from the mayor’s political allies like Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, who told reporters that the mayor doesn’t respect due process.  He said a status quo should have been observed when Bacaltos filed his complaint before the court.