DTo diffuse the explosive atmosphere at the Bohol Island State College, Cogtong, Candijay Campus, no less than the university president himself, Dr. Elpidio Magante has taken over the place of the beleaguered campus director who is recently the object of mass protest from the faculty, students, parents and local officials that asked for his transfer elsewhere. Magante said he personally motored to Cogtong, Candijay Friday and talked with all personalities concerned to forge a compromise until all issues are settled. BISU-Cogtong, Candijay campus director Arnulfo Olandria, in the meantime, will be relieved of his duties while his case is elevated to the Grievance Committee and to the Board of Regents. Candijay mayor Sergio Amora, Jr. also confirmed the intervention of BISU president Magante, who, according to him, vowed to find resolution on the case of the Candijay campus director, presently under siege by the whole community asking for his immediate transfer outside BISU Candijay.

Numerous petitions signed by the faculty, deans of colleges, students were earlier sent to BISU President Magante and CHED Commissioner William Medrano, alleging among others, the use of university facilities in political partisan activities of its campus director, in promoting his son's candidacy, Arnelo Olandria, who ran and won as councilor in the May elections. Aside from the alleged political angle, the Supreme Student Government (SSG) also lamented on the alleged campus director's insensitivity to the plight of students who have to make classes under leaky roofs, lack of laboratory facilities and the alleged family control of the campus by Olandria's family, most of them appointed to key positions. A massive but peaceful rally was staged Thursday morning in front of BISU Candijay campus, joined by Mayor Amora, the vice mayor and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, barangay captains and various sectors of the community.

CHATTO'S ACTION

On Friday, Gov. Edgar Chatto announced the creation of a fact-finding committee that would conduct an investigation on the allegations against the BISU –Candijay campus director Olandria and to hear all sides of the controversy. The team will be headed by former DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Cerina Bolos, with members: Executive Assistant Billy Tongco and Atty. Mende from the Provincial Legal Office. Chatto said he would take immediate action on the matter based on the report and recommendations of the fact-finding team. Chatto, while congressman of the first district of Bohol, is the author of the law that created BISU, the province's first state university from the then Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Technology (CVSCAFT). As governor, Chatto said his administration has considered as among its top priorities the delivery of quality education for our students to become globally competitive when they graduate and work in these equally challenging times.