Woman files abuse raps against Tejero

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

THE mother of a 5th grader who accused City Central School principal Arnold Tejero of lascivious conduct has filed another complaint against the school executive before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Trixie (not her real name) filed an administrative complaint for grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct against Dr. Tejero on Friday.

In a five-page affidavit-complaint, she asked the ombudsman to slap Tejero with a preventive suspension order to ensure an influence-free and smooth investigation into the case.

Trixie said she feared that Tejero would exert influence and withhold documents under his direct control unless the principal of the governmentun school is suspended.

The woman earlier pressed charges for acts of lasciviousness against Tejero before the local prosecutor’s office.

She accused Tejero of tricking and bringing her to a motel in Barangay Kauswagan in May where he allegedly tried to be intimate with her.

Trixie alleged that Tejero earlier offered her a space in the school canteen for free, and that he even went to the extent of offering more help so she could find capitalization for her planned sherbet business.

She said Tejero’s offer was the reason why she agreed to meet him near Divisoria and then go with him supposedly to meet his friend in Patag in May 17. The complainant said Tejero told her that his friend could help her with her capitalization problem.

Trixie alleged that Tejero tricked her, and took her instead to Resonance Inn in Kauswagan. The establishment used to be known as Renaissance.

Trixie accused Tejero of causing her “irreparable damages due to wanton and malevolent acts,” and called what he allegedly did to her as grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct.

“The Code of Ethics and Ethical Standard for Public Officials and Employees enunciates the state policy to promote a high standard of ethics in public service, and enjoins public officials and employees to discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity and competence,” reads part of Trixie’s affidavit.

Being a government official, Tejero, she said, was supposed to “respect the rights of others, and refrain from doing acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order and public interest.”

Trixie also said that what Tejero did was conduct unbecoming of a government employee if not, gross misconduct.

“Tejero failed to live up to the standards of honesty and integrity required in the public service. In the words of the Constitution, public office is a public trust and respondent betrayed this trust. Under Civil Service rules, gross misconduct is a grave offense and punishable by dismissal,” she stated.

This paper earlier tried to press Tejero for comment but he declined, explaining that there was a standing order from the City Schools Division that prevented officials like him from speaking to the news media.