DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Five commissioners of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) have publicly demanded the resignation of Chairman Franklin Quijano, citing serious allegations of misconduct and mismanagement within the agency.
Mary Jean Loreche, speaking at a press briefing in Manila, stated, “The five of us have jointly signed a manifesto urging the chairman of the NCSC to resign from his position.”
The manifesto was also endorsed by Ricardo Rainier Cruz, Enriqueta Rodeles, Edwin Espejo, and Reymal Mausilungan, who accused Quijano of various offenses including grave abuse of authority, gross misconduct, and negligence in fulfilling his duties. They further criticized his purported lack of adherence to legal standards and actions contrary to public interests.
Loreche highlighted financial mismanagement within the NCSC, pointing to significant underspending amidst unclear program implementation as indicative of broader systemic issues that demand immediate attention.
“In making this difficult decision, we are acting in the best interest of public service and particularly for the welfare of the 12 million senior citizens in our country,” the manifesto read, emphasizing their plea for Quijano’s resignation.
The statement concluded with an appeal to Quijano’s sense of integrity, urging him to step down voluntarily. Should he decline to resign, the group expressed their intention to escalate the matter to the Office of the President for further action.
In response to these allegations, Quijano refuted all claims made against him, dismissing them as unfounded and asserting his readiness to address each accusation in due course.
This development underscores growing tensions within the NCSC and raises significant concerns about leadership and governance within the commission tasked with safeguarding the interests of senior citizens nationwide.
