TCC President Refuses to Step Down

Despite termination order from the mayor, Talisay City College (TCC) President Richel Bacaltos refused to step down from his post.

“I am sorry, Mayor, dili lang sa ko mo-relinquish. I will step down kung naa’y order sa Board of Trustees,” said Bacaltos to Mayor Johnny delos Reyes who served the order for his removal from office.

Delos Reyes issued an executive order replacing Bacaltos as TCC head and installing Dr. Paulos Cañete to the post.

The mayor explained he did it because Cañete, despite his issues with the Mandaue City College in the past, is more qualified to run the TCC than Bacaltos, a former city councilor and a part-time college teacher without a doctoral degree.

But de los Reyes was not able to implement his order after Bacaltos maintained that an executive order is not as potent as a TCC-Board of Trustees (BOT) resolution.

Under the ordinance creating the TCC, Bacaltos said, only the BOT has the power to terminate or replace the college president.

However, de los Reyes insisted he issued the order as chairman of the BOT and that he had the approval of the said body.

Adamant to the mayor’s claim, Bacaltos told Delos Reyes he will step down by the time he sees a copy of the duly-approved BOT resolution.

The mayor said he will get it within this week.