"Only qualified and licensed librarians shall be employed as librarians in all government libraries."
On 19 Jan 2018, I filed a complaint with the Ombudsman that questioned the appointment of a non-librarian as Director of the National Library of the Philippines. On 14 Feb 2018, I filed a supplement to the original complaint that charged the current Director with illegal practice of the profession.
This blog post shares the documents that I submitted to the Ombudsman, provides links to relevant sites (where, for example, you can verify for yourself if the current #NationalNonLibrarian is, in fact, not a licensed librarian), and links to all the articles and shows that have mentioned the complaint.
Just to be clear, I am NOT interested in the position. I filed my complaint because we have to safeguard the integrity and values of ALL professions by making sure that only licensed professionals are allowed to practice.
Here's the PDF of the complaint that I submitted on 19 Jan 2018:
Here's the PDF of the supplement to the Jan 19 complaint, which I submitted on 14 Feb 2018:
Here are the relevant links:
THE LAW
RA 9246 - AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PRACTICE OF LIBRARIANSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINES THEREBY REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6966
"SEC 31. Employment of Librarians. – Only qualified and licensed librarians shall be employed as librarians in all government libraries."
THE JOB ADVERTISEMENT
As posted by the Civil Service Commission:
"Qualification Requirements
• Others : must be a licensed librarian"
WHO IS THE NATIONAL NON-LIBRARIAN?
National Library welcomes new director
This press release does not tell us much. Neither does Google.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Excerpt from the message read by a subordinate at the national congress of librarians in Bacolod last November 2017. (Yes, he could not even be bothered to deliver it himself.)
"...The President himself had witnessed the destitute situation of majority of the Filipino people. With the numerous impoverished places he visited, he resolved that should he win the presidency, he would prioritize the majority who have been denied even of basic services from the government. His compassion over the poorest of the poor has been marked in his heart.
And so, when he won, he handpicked the people whom he believed could run with this vision. I am among those designated, not because I am the most qualified for the position, but because I have the trust and confidence of the President. To work with him closely in delivering government services to the majority who have been denied for these benefits for decades.
I have worked for Mayor Duterte, now President of this Republic, within fifteen years. My work as among the human resource officers was to hire, to deploy, and if ineffective, to fire. Over and above this, I handled some confidential matters for the mayor. I am appointed in this agency for a mission, ensuring that all citizens, especially the poor and other vulnerable groups, have access to NLP services..."
IS HE A LICENSED LIBRARIAN?
See the answer for yourself at the website of the Professional Regulation Commission:
Verification of Professional Licenses
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION'S POSITION
The only one available online before I filed my complaint:
PLAI Statement of Concern
The one that was uploaded after I filed my complaint:
Statement of Concern of which copies were sent to the PRC and CSC
THE CODE OF ETHICS
Code of Ethics for Philippine Librarians
Sec. 2.3: "Librarians shall not assist in the unauthorized practice of librarianship."
WHY AM I DOING THIS?
Why I became a librarian.
The following links lead to online articles and TV segments that have tackled this concern.
2 April 2018
Philippine Daily Inquirer23 February 2018
- Demand answers on #NationalNonLibrarian by Oscar Franklin Tan
Rappler13 February 2018
- The Librarians: A Rappler Profile by Patricia Evangelista
Philippine Star5 February 2018
Philippine Star2 February 2018
- Angeles City Library has no librarians, complaint alleges by Rosette Adel
Philippine Daily Inquirer1 February 2018
- Eminent nonlibrarians by Ambeth R. Ocampo
Philippine Star31 January 2018
CNN Philippines28 January 2018
- How can a non-librarian lead the National Library? by Anna Bueno
- Probe on National Library appointment up to Ombudsman – Malacañang by Regine Cabato
Philippine Daily Inquirer26 January 2018
Rappler
- Protecting the civil service from politics by Randy David
- Probe 'national non-librarian,' Ombudsman urged by Rambo Talabong
ABS-CBN News25 January 2018
- 2nd Bandila story by Mike Navallo
ABS-CBN News24 January 2018
Esquire Philippines
- 1st Bandila story by Mike Navallo
Philippine Star
- Librarians are the keepers of information, and that's why the gov't needs to look into this complaint by Angelica Gutierrez
- Palace to 'look into' National Library's non-librarian director by Rosette Adel
Philippine Daily Inquirer
ABS-CBN News
- Ateneo exec seeks probe on Duterte’s appointment of ‘non-librarian’ to Nat’l Library by Vince F. Nonato
GMA News Online
- National Library chief not a librarian, complaint alleges by Adrian Ayalin
Philippine Star
- Ateneo chief librarian wants Ombudsman to probe appointment of NLP head by Joseph Tristan Roxas
