Malacañang has removed National Commission of Senior Citizens commissioner Reymar Mansilungan from his post after he was found administratively liable for serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, and behavior detrimental to public service.
The 16-page ruling, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, emphasized that public servants must consistently uphold integrity and accountability, in line with the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
“Integrity is the capital of the government workforce; hence, dishonest acts are much to be condemned,” the decision stressed.
Miguelito Garcia and Senior Citizens party-list Representative Rodolfo Ordanes lodged an administrative complaint against Reymar Mansilungan, accusing him of serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, gross insubordination, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
In their individual complaints, Miguelito Garcia and Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes accused Reymar Mansilungan of falsifying his educational background in his application for the role of Commissioner at the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).
According to the complaints, Reymar Mansilungan falsely claimed in his résumé that he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (Journalism) from the University of the Philippines (UP). However, a certification from UP’s Office of the University Registrar confirmed that there was no record of him ever enrolling at the university.
Beyond the alleged false credentials, the complainants also accused Mansilungan of misusing NCSC resources by attending events and conducting activities in South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—areas outside his assigned jurisdiction. His appointment only covered North Luzon, specifically Regions 1 to 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Additional allegations included authorizing bonuses for unqualified contract-of-service personnel and refusing to appoint an executive director who had been nominated by the executive secretary.
In a letter to the Office of the President, Mansilungan denied falsifying his educational background, asserting that he had completed his journalism degree. Addressing the accusation of misusing NCSC resources for activities beyond his designated area, he pointed to Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11350, saying it does not prohibit commissioners from operating outside their assigned regions. He explained that he only recommended the bonuses for personnel who had already worked at the NCSC for two years before becoming coterminous employees.
However, the Office of the President found his justification for his academic record to be untimely.
“It 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 decision stated.
Regarding bonuses, the OP emphasized that *”there was a flagrant disregard of established rules and a clear willful intent to violate the law attendant to the act, making him liable for grave misconduct.” It also concluded that his misrepresentation of credentials and the recommendation of bonuses to unqualified personnel amounted to conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, damaging the NCSC’s credibility.