CHED employees file complaints against chair Agrupis

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

A group of concerned Commission on Higher Education (CHED) employees has filed administrative and ethics complaints against Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis, accusing her of nepotism, red tape, abuse of authority, oppressive conduct, and the use of public office for personal promotion.

The complaint, a copy of which was obtained by the Daily Guardian, was submitted to the Office of the President on Thursday, May 28.

The complainants, who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisal, alleged that Agrupis violated Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), Commission on Audit Circular No. 2013-004, and related Civil Service Commission rules.

They called for a Civil Service Commission review of all CHED appointments made since June 2025 and a formal investigation into the alleged pattern of workplace abuse.

The employees also urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appoint a new CHED chairperson.

“Our students deserve leadership that treats CHED as a constitutional body entrusted with shaping the future of the country’s higher education, not as a platform for personal branding or legacy-building,” the six-page complaint read.

The complainants claimed that since Agrupis assumed office in May 2025, a disproportionate number of senior positions at the CHED Central Office have been filled by individuals from her former institution, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), and CHED Regional Office I.

“This pronounced concentration of appointees from the Chairperson’s former institutions creates a strong conclusion that personal loyalty and institutional affiliation, rather than merit, fitness, and demonstrated qualifications, have been the principal factors driving these appointments,” they said.

The complaint also pointed out that during her tenure as MMSU president, Agrupis appointed her daughter, Atty. Cheska Arla C. Agrupis, as executive assistant — a move the complainants argued raises concerns over possible violations of anti-nepotism rules.

The employees further alleged that a hostile work environment developed under Agrupis’ leadership, citing what they described as a consistent pattern of verbal abuse and oppressive conduct.

The complaint cited alleged witness accounts claiming Agrupis publicly scolded staff through the public-address system during flag ceremonies at the CHED Central Office and shouted at personnel during internal meetings.

The complainants also alleged the behavior extended to interagency settings.

In one incident cited in the complaint, Agrupis allegedly raised her voice and rolled her eyes at a representative of the Department of Science and Technology during a Senate hearing.

The complainants argued that, if substantiated, the acts could constitute oppression and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service under Civil Service Commission rules.

The complaint also questioned the handling of Contracts of Service and Job Order personnel under Agrupis and the commission’s current Administrative, Financial, and Management Services Director, Alma Sy-Patron.

According to the complainants, Contracts of Service and Job Order agreements that could have been issued for up to one year were allegedly divided into three-month engagements beginning fiscal year 2026.

The complainants said the practice created unnecessary red tape and prolonged uncertainty for workers by forcing them to repeatedly secure documents and pay notarization fees, while diverting regular staff from substantive work.

Agrupis was also accused of using government resources and official events for personal branding.

The complaint stated that CHED’s “ACHIEVE Agenda” mirrors the framework Agrupis previously used at MMSU.

“Rather than developing a responsive institutional strategy for CHED, she imported her personal brand wholesale into a constitutional body. The ‘A’ in ACHIEVE has become synonymous with ‘A’ for Agrupis,” the complainants said.

The petitioners also alleged that Agrupis solicited or required high-ranking officials and diplomats to perform a hand gesture forming the letter “A” during official events.

The employees questioned the alleged use of a personalized chairperson’s logo and the prominent inclusion of Agrupis’ image in government publication materials.

They sought an investigation into the production, distribution, and screening of a biographical film titled “Shirley,” particularly whether government funds, personnel time, or CHED facilities were used.

The complainants argued that the alleged personal branding activities occurred while CHED faced serious institutional issues.

They cited PHP 20.171 billion in unliquidated Tertiary Education Subsidy grants flagged by the Commission on Audit as of Dec. 31, 2024, with only 40.8 percent reportedly resolved as of March 2026.

The complaint referenced findings by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which stated that CHED had only partially realized its mandate after 30 years.

The employees cited the alleged failure to designate new Centers of Excellence since 2016 and the absence of support for voluntary accreditation since 2020.

The complaint mentioned opposition from major universities, faculty unions, and student groups to the proposed reframing of the General Education curriculum, which led to the postponement of pilot testing until 2028.

The employees cited Agrupis’ statement before EDCOM 2 that CHED had “no centralized data on the demand and thorough analysis of the demand from the industry and government sectors.”

They also pointed to rising graduate unemployment, which the complaint said increased from 35.6 percent in December 2024 to 50 percent by mid-2025, based on CHED-cited figures.

“The disproportionate focus on personal branding, biographical filmmaking, and staged group poses, while these fundamental problems remain unresolved, reflects a serious misalignment of priorities that undermines public trust in the Commission,” the employees said.