By Genalyn Kabiling Former Commission on Higher Education chair Patricia Licuanan was booted out from office due to her excessive foreign travels and delays in the release of scholars’ allowances, President Duterte revealed on Tuesday. CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan
(LJ Passion / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) "(Si) Licuanan every month lumalabas kasi sa CHED daw kailangan ng edukasyon. Huwag mo ako bolahin ,” the President said during the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) 45th anniversary rites in Pasig City. “Sabi ko you are up to something because I know that you know and I know na walang resulta yung ginagawa mo puro kalokohan ," he added. Licuanan earlier resigned from her post, six months before her term expires in July, amid allegations of frequent travels and mismanagement.  Duterte later admitted that he "dismissed" Licuanan but did not disclose his reason at the time. The President, in his remarks on Tuesday, also criticized Licuanan for the delays in the release of allowances of government scholars. "Nung nakita ko ‘yung mga allowances ng mga scholars hindi pa nagbayad, eh kasi ginanun niya ‘yung pera eh. Nahulog --- na-devote doon sa different main line agencies ," he said. "She gave an order na mapunta lahat sa… eh di six years pending ," he added. Duterte then contrasted Licuanan's policy with Commissioner Prospero de Vera III, current officer-in-charge, who opted to give the allowances to the schools.