Duterte designates Popoy de Vera as CHED OIC

President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen Commissioner Prospero "Popoy" de Vera to be the officer-in-charge of the Commission on Higher Education.

Pres. Duterte designated Commissioner Popoy de Vera as CHED OIC following the resignation of Chairperson Patricia Licuanan pic.twitter.com/6oEjt0UQ7h

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) January 26, 2018

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea informed De Vera of Duterte's instructions in a letter dated January 24, a copy of which Malacañang released on Friday. 

In a Facebook post, De Vera thanked Duterte and shared a copy of a press release from CHED executive director Karol Mark Yee.

Yee pointed out that De Vera is a strong advocate of increasing state subsidy for higher education.

"With his extensive experience and long-term commitment and dedication to public service, the agency trusts that under De Vera's leadership, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education will be successfully rolled out," he said.

De Vera's appointment came after former CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan resigned from her post after she received a call from Malacañang.

Duterte later said he "dismissed" Licuanan who was accused of excessive foreign trips. But Malacañang did not confirm if these allegations were true. — Trisha Macas/RSJ/KBK, GMA News