MALACAÑANG has dismissed from service National Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC) Commissioner Reymar Mansilungan "for serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service."

The decision, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 23, was based on the administrative case against Mansilungan filed by Miguelito Garcia and Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes of the Senior Citizen Partylist. The complainants said Mansilungan falsely claimed in his application to the NCSC that he obtained a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (Journalism) from the University of the Philippines. Aside from falsifying his academic qualifications, Bersamin said Mansilungan also committed serious offenses such as misusing government funds and disobeying directives. "This Office reiterates that public officials and employees are obliged to remain true to the people at all times as mandated by the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees," Bersamin said in his order. Mansilungan admitted the lapses on his résumé, explaining that it was encoded by his daughter at an internet café wherein the entry in the "School Last Attended" was inadvertently encoded as "University of the Philippines." He further explained that he did not see the need to correct it since he deemed his educational attainment immaterial to his recommendation as NCSC commissioner. Bersamin said personal data sheets must be accomplished with candor and truthfulness. "Similarly, résumés must uphold the same degree of honesty, as they are vital in evaluating an applicant's qualifications," he said. "Any false entry in these documents will be considered dishonesty. It is settled that dishonesty is a willful and voluntary act which cannot be justified under the guise of negligence or ignorance," Bersamin added. The complainants also said Mansilungan spent a significant amount of time and NCSC resources when he traveled and attended affairs in Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, which were beyond his jurisdiction. Mansilungan was appointed NCSC commissioner on Jan. 17, 2022 for a term that was supposed to end on Sept. 17, 2027. He is in charge of the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region. He is also the chairman of the senior citizens committee of the Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan. There was also an allegation that he allowed the grant of bonuses to ineligible personnel under contract of service and the refusal to appoint an executive director nominated through the executive secretary. On the claim of using NCSC resources for private affairs outside his jurisdiction, Mansilungan said Section 4 of Republic Act 11350 provides no restriction on commissioners from performing functions outside of their respective assigned geographical regions. He said he had recommended bonuses to the personnel who had served two years with the NCSC before they became coterminous staff. Bersamin said Mansilungan's explanation of his false educational background "was made only after the complaints were filed against him. This shows that Mansilungan had no intention to correct the untruthful entries in his résumé until the falsity was discovered." The granting of the bonuses was a flagrant disregard of established rules and a clear willful intent to violate the law attendant to the act, making Mansilungan liable for grave misconduct, Bersamin said. The Palace also found that Mansilungan was liable for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for misrepresenting his educational attainment and for his recommendation to grant midyear bonuses to ineligible individuals as these acts have tarnished the image and integrity of the NCSC. "The act may or may not be related to or connected with the public officer's official functions. The determining factor in the administrative charge of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service is the effect of the conduct, which is to tarnish the image and integrity of his or her public office," Bersamin said.