THE Capiz State University (CapSU) has been ordered by the Commission on Audit to refund the wages paid to a priest who was hired as a “Multi-Faith Director” responsible for promoting the “spiritual development” of students.
State auditors said the hiring of a priest, minister, preacher, pastor or any official of a religious sect is specifically prohibited under Section 29 (2), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.
The said provisions state: “No public money or property shall be appropriated, applied, paid or employed, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution, or system of religion, or any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher, or dignitary, as such, except when such priest, preacher, minister, or dignitary is assigned to the armed forces, or any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.”
Records obtained by the audit team showed the priest was hired through a contract of service at P20,000 a month and received his wages from March 16, 2022 to December 31, 2022.
He was tasked with conducting campus ministries, preparing the annual multi-faith activities, organizing spiritual wellness activities and outreach programs, coordinating with muti-faith organizations, and celebrating ecumenical services including monthly masses and baccalaureate mass.
Auditors, however, said the listed duties do not qualify the priest as a consultant who is expected to provide a learning service or technical expertise.
The signing of the contract was likewise called into question since the multi-faith director supposedly started rendering service on March 16, 2022 but the contract was undated although notarized only on May 31, 2022.
However, in his daily time records, the priest identified himself as “Rev. Fr.” and a university chaplain, which was inconsistent with the designation in his contract.
In its reaction to the audit observation, the CapSU management argued that the university has a responsibility to ensure the overall development of its students under RA 8044 or The Youth in Nation Building Act.
The audit team countered that the law cited was about the creation of the National Youth Commission which is mandated to implement youth-related programs, projects, and activities.
At the same time, CapSU officials said the hiring of a multi-faith director was part of the university’s action to address the “many cases of suicide” by students from its different campuses between 2017 and 2019 adding that these were attributed to “depression, emotional, relational, and personal problems including detachment from spirituality.”
“While we recognize the role of the priests, ministers, preachers, pastors or other religious teachers in the spiritual development of the students, we would like to reiterate the prohibition against appropriation for sectarian benefits as provided in Sec. 29 (2), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution,” the auditors said.
The COA recommended that the CapSU management discontinue the hiring of priests and other religious leaders and to require the hired personnel to refund the entire P190,000 paid to him for his services or a notice of disallowance would be issued.
