Beleaguered Cotabato state college exec files sabbatical leave

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the state-run Cotabato Foundation College for Science and Technology (CFCST) has approved the sabbatical leave filed earlier by Dr. Samson Molao, the beleaguered CFCST president accused of keeping in his possession close to half a million worth of ‘shabu’, an illegal drug, when his staff house was raided in January.Dulia Sultan, member of CFCST’s BoT, said the Board granted on March 3 Molao’s study leave for one year.But while on leave, Molao is required to submit to the Board proposals for his chosen course, research, study, or thesis.Sultan, a member of theSangguniang Panlalawigan ng Cotabato, said that while Molao is on study leave, he would receive his monthly salary and other benefits as CFCST president.In a radio interview over Catholic-ran DXND, Sultan clarified that Molao can return to his institution after his study, since there is yet no administrative or criminal charges filed against him as regards the recent raid the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted in late January.During the raid, PDEA agents confiscated 14 high-powered firearms the school had issued to their security guards and several grams of shabu worth half a million pesos.Since then, Molao has not reported for duty, Sultan said. As far as the BoT is concerned, we have not received any copy of any charge filed against our president, Dr. Molao.Also, there is yet no warrant of arrest that was issued against him. Yet, Molao, instead of returning to the school, decided to go on a sabbatical leave, Sultan explained.She stressed the Board approved Molao’s application for a sabbatical leave after they conducted evaluation of the merit of his proposal and the benefit it will have for the faculty and for the College.The BoT has appointed Dr. Zainudin Adam, CFCST’s vice-president for Land Reservation, as officer-in-charge of the college, while Molao is on leave.In another development, Sultan said that while there is a recommendation filed at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that a certain Clint Hassan, former CFCST employee, sits as OIC president, they have yet to receive from him documents, including an official letter stating his interest in holding such post.Hassan, who now works at the Department of Agriculture, was strongly recommended by Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol to take Molao’s place to ensure order and help set direction of the school. Pinol’s recommendation bore a marginal note from President Rodrigo Duterte, said Sultan.Hassan is also strongly endorsed by the group, Save CFCST Movement, whose leaders include Dr. Harris Sinolinding, considered by Molao as one of his staunch critics.Sinolinding, in an interview, said they wanted Hassan to sit as OIC president because they have high regard on him and that he is an ‘outsider.’Sultan, however, was told that Hassan is, not, in anyway, interested , in the position.Sultan quoted CHED commissioner Ronald Adamat as saying that Hassan did not apply for such position. Also, Sultan said that Hassan was honest to admit that he is not qualified to sit as OIC president.Adamat represents CHED in the CFCST’s Board of Trustees.