Employees of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) have filed administrative and ethics complaints against Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis, accusing her of abusing her authority and instilling fear within the agency.
The employees' main concern is Agrupis' reported claim that she has a close relationship with First Lady Liza A. Marcos. According to employees, Agrupis has used this alleged closeness to give the impression that she is politically protected — even untouchable — despite the complaints and mounting criticism surrounding her leadership. Employees emphasize, however, that the alleged relationship is based on Agrupis' own claims, and it is unclear whether the First Lady is even aware that her name is being invoked in this manner. The claim has cast a long shadow over the complaints, raising concerns that the allegations against Agrupis will be quietly dropped while she retains her position.
Employees have also questioned how CHED resources have been used for official purposes. They point to one conference in particular, where a biographical presentation allegedly honoring Agrupis' life and career was shown. They argue that government funds and staff time should have been allocated to programs directly related to the commission's educational mandate.
A separate complaint concerns educational materials that were once intended for nationwide distribution. Employees claim that distribution of these publications was halted, resulting in thousands of copies sitting unused in CHED warehouses despite the fact that public funds were already spent on their production. Some employees believe the holdup stems from the Chairperson's reluctance to promote materials she had no personal involvement in creating.
Critics within the agency also point to what they describe as inconsistent fiscal priorities. They point out that Agrupis has publicly advocated for austerity, and that many plantilla positions are still vacant. Employees claim that the vacancy rate has left the agency understaffed and overburdened. However, they argue that spending has continued on non-essential activities. Employees claim that as a result, the commission has prioritized image-building over the personnel required to keep core operations running.
For many employees, the conflict has escalated beyond a single decision or management style. They argue that CHED's efforts should instead be directed toward strengthening higher education policy, assisting state universities and colleges, and addressing the larger challenges confronting Philippine higher education.
Employees say they are now appealing directly to the First Lady, hoping she will push for an impartial review of their complaints. They insist that the appeal is motivated not by personal grievances, but by a desire to restore public trust in CHED and ensure that government resources serve students, educators, and higher education institutions, rather than internal politics or the head's proclivity for self-promotion.
