BOR observing due process in case of dismissed dean

This refers to the column of Prof. Solita Monsod titled “A matter of justice—and courtesy” (Inquirer, 10/27/12).

Monsod claimed in her column that she delivered a personal letter to the Office of the Secretary of the UP Board of Regents (BOR) on Oct. 4,  2012, inquiring about the status of the case of UP Cebu Dean Enrique Avila, who appealed his dismissal from UP. She further claimed that she never received a reply from the BOR, and conveyed her dismay at the delay, which she says is a “denial of justice” to Avila. She also accused the BOR members of seeing it “fit to keep Dean Avila twisting in the wind” and characterized Avila as a “man innocent of the charges, and desiring only to do what is necessary to prepare UP Cebu in its role as a constituent campus.”

Being the secretary of the BOR, let me state the following:

1.) The hand-carried letter of Monsod, which was addressed to the chair and members of the BOR, was received by the Office of the Secretary of the University (OSU) on Oct. 4, 2012.

2.) The BOR secretary was not provided a copy of that letter.

3.) Copies of the letter were personally delivered by the messenger of the OSU and received by the BOR members between Oct. 4 and 9, 2012.

4.) The appeal of Dean Avila on his dismissal from service is still pending with the BOR; thus, the merits of the case cannot be discussed in public or disclosed. Contrary to Monsod’s claim that the BOR has kept Avila “twisting in the wind,” the BOR has acted with care by ensuring that due process is observed, and by carefully studying and deliberating on the merits of the case, which involves not only the dean but also Prof. Ernesto Pineda and Mr. Alsidry Sharif.

5.) As soon as the BOR has decided on the case with finality, the BOR secretary will forward the legal order to UP Cebu through the Office of the UP President for implementation. (UP Cebu is directly under the Office of the UP President.)

I hope this letter clarifies the issues raised by Monsod.—LILIAN A. DE LAS LLAGAS, secretary of the UP Board of Regents