DUMAGUETE CITY, August 18 (PNA) -– The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Oriental has subpoenaed the chief security of the state-run Negros Oriental Statue University (NORSU) to answer a charge of refusal of entry of a member of the university’s Board of Regents (BOR).
CHR lone special investigator Dr. Jess Cañete disclosed that around 8:20 Monday morning, Roche Cabanlit, a teacher, a member of the Board of Regents and president of NORSU’s faculty union, was denied entry by Benjamin Valencia, head of security of the said state university.
Dr. Cañete further disclosed he was a witness to the incident as he was also about to enter the university where he is also teaching but at the time had some other business there.
According to Cañete, while at the gate, he saw that the security chief denied Cabanlit access inside the main campus, located near the Capitol, citing an alleged order by a certain Dr. Villahermosa of the NORSU administration.
Cañete said he then interceded for the Cabanlit, pointing out that preventing him entry to the NORSU campus was a violation of his rights.
However, the chief security allegedly insisted that Cabanlit was not allowed to enter the university premises. Cañete then advised that the incident be recorded in the logbook for future reference.
Immediately thereafter, the CHR investigator invited Cabanlit to his office and took his affidavit prior to the commencement of a formal investigation.
Subsequently, Cañete issued a subpoena for Valencia, the NORSU chief security, to explain within 10 days upon receipt of the document, why Cabanlit was denied entry to the university.
As a backgrounder, Cabanlit was earlier suspended by Dr. Vicente Real, NORSU president, for 90 days for serious dishonesty after claiming that he had a master’s degree in Information Technology.
In late July, the Board of Regents, however, nullified the suspension saying for technicalities, lack of jurisdiction and due process.
But, according to Dr. Cañete, he was informed that Dr. Real has allegedly ignored the lifting of Cabanlit’s suspension by the Board of Regents. (PNA)