Tarlac City – – “Salamat at wala na siya.”
Thus, said of the re-assignment outside Tarlac province and demotion of Estelita Cunanan, Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Schools Superintendent (SDS).
Cunanan was demoted to Assistant Schools Division Superintendent and was “transferred” to the Mabalacat City DepEd. However, apparently, school officials from Pampanga refused to accommodate her.
For more than a year, Cunanan is the subject of complaints, not only from the local DepEd personnel and officials, but also from the mayors of this province.
Last year, 17 mayors of Tarlac signed a strongly-worded Resolution seeking the transfer of Cunanan.
In an exclusive interview September last year, Aquino said, “We only acted on the numerous complaints brought to us by school principals and supervisors. She is unwanted by them”. Aquino is the current president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Tarlac Chapter.
The complaints of malversation of public fund, grave dishonesty, falsification of public documents and abuse of authority were filed against Cunanan at the Ombudsman.
An elementary school principal was earlier quoted as saying, “she (Cunanan) is unfair, conceited, pompous and corrupt. Her management style is dictatorial.”
Last June, DepEd supervisor Rodel Aragon filed 2 criminal and 2 administrative cases against Cunanan.
In his complaint, Aragon cited a Commission on Audit (COA) report which allegedly declared as “over-charging” Cunanan’s rental payment for a house leased for her use.
COA says Department of Budget and Management (DBM) rules limits rental for official quarter to only P2,000 per month but Cunanan supposedly collects and pays P10,000 per month.
Worse, according to Aragon, “Cunanan is assigned in Tarlac but her quarters (rented house) is in Pampanga and the owner of the house appeared to be her own sister”.
Aragon also complained of Cunanan allowing her driver to collect “unlawful” overtime pays and allowances.
Cunanan was also criticized for alleged favoritism and manipulation ranking evaluation.
Commenting on the issue, a mayor who requested his name withheld said, “Mabuti naman wala na si SDS (Cunanan), ngayon babalik na ang katinuan and professionalism sa DepEd Tarlac. Matagal-tagal ding naging magulo ang pamamalakad sa mga schools kaya na-apektuhan ang mga students”.