On Sojor’s suspension

By Jick K. Iñgan
(Vol. XXVI No. 12, Editorial Cartoon)

On Sojor’s suspension

One hot issue discussed in the university for months now is the 90-day preventive suspension of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) President Henry A. Sojor.

The issue broke out earlier this school year after the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the disciplinary authority of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) over state university presidents.

Everything rooted from the three separate complaints lodged by some faculty members of the then Central Visayas Polytechnic College (now NORSU) against the university president in 2002. Complaints for dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service; dishonesty, misconduct and falsification of public documents; and nepotism were the sets of complaints filed with CSC against Sojor.

While on the height of the celebration of the University Founder’s Week, the talk on the issue intensified again when CSC issued an order dated November 19, 2008, placing Sojor under preventive suspension for 90 days for the commission to proceed with the formal investigation of the charges against him. Despite the order, Sojor remained in his office attending his daily responsibilities as president of the NORSU system.

Questions from the Norsunian community started to flare. Was the university president really suspended? If so, why did he remain in his office? In an earlier interview with The NORSUnian (TN), Sojor also refrained to give official comment on the issue due to the sub judice rule, a principle in law which prohibits litigants from discussing the merits of a case in public because it may influence the result of the litigation.

The queries were finally answered when Sojor released a special memorandum circular on January 15 this year stating that “as an act of responsible leadership”, he “voluntarily submits to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Order of Preventive Suspension without prejudice to the outcome of the appeal therefrom.” Effective February 9, 2009, Sojor temporarily left his position and upon his recommendation, the NORSU Board of Regents (BOR) designated NORSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Victoria P. Dinopol as Officer-in-Charge of the university during his absence.

Looking at the issue, Sojor’s decision of submitting to CSC’s suspension order is the right action for a leader. It did not only answer all the questions thrown about his suspension and it did not only stop the various hearsays and perceptions, but it also gave him an avenue to clear his name with the allegations against him. For a leader, especially in a big university like NORSU, it is very important to continue enjoying the trust of most, if not all of the members of its community.

But of course, his submission to CSC does not make him instantly safe or cleared from the allegations against him. On the other hand, his action does not also mean that he is already guilty. Preventive suspension is not also a penalty or punishment. Let everyone be reminded that the university president is not yet proven guilty with the allegations and that the purpose of the 90-day preventive suspension is for the subject to be prevented from doing things that may influence the integrity of the probe.

For now, it’s too early to give judgment to Sojor. Let the CSC investigate first and rule over the case. If Sojor would be found guilty in the end, then let the axe of legal consequence fall on him. But if the accusers fail to prove their accusations, Sojor should continue his presidency of NORSU and the university’s journey with him until 2012 should go on.

Let us wait and let CSC do its work.