Marcos accepts courtesy resignation of CHED's De Vera

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday disclosed that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. had accepted the courtesy resignation of Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero De Vera III. 

At a press briefing, Bersamin said De Vera would be replaced by CHED Commissioner Shirley Agrupis, a former president of Mariano Marcos State University in Ilocos Norte. 

De Vera had been serving as CHED chairperson since 2018 before Marcos accepted his courtesy resignation.

''Well, as far as I know, although this is not the official reason, you know CHED Chair De Vera has been there for two terms already. This is his second term, maybe the President wants to give a fresh start to the CHED,'' Bersamin said in a mix of English and Filipino.

''Hindi natin madi-discount that may factor diyan iyong mga intramurals doon sa CHED (We can't discount that those intramurals at CHED were a factor). I do not know, I cannot particularize because I’m just generally aware of those particulars,'' he added.

''A collegial body like the CHED always comes under such pressure from within but I’m not going to say that that was the reason, I’m just guessing. That played a lot in the acceptance of the resignation.''

In a statement, De Vera said he respects the President’s decision and thanked him for the trust and the opportunity to continue with the educational reforms in higher education.

''It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the Filipino people and to give an opportunity to every aspiring young Filipino to achieve his/her dream of completing their university education through the Universal Access to Quality Education Law (RA 10931),'' De Vera said.

''It has also been a privilege to work with committed colleagues in CHED and across the higher education sector to promote access, equity, and quality in Philippine higher education,'' he added.

He also extended his congratulations to Agrupis. — VBL, GMA Integrated News