18 Regino v.

Pangasinan Colleges of Sciences

Doctrine: Exhaustion of administrative remedies has no application where a student is not asking for the
reversal of the policies of an educational institution nor demanding that she be allowed to take the final
examinations that she was prevented from taking, but is praying for damages.

Facts:

The petitioner, Khristine Rea M. Regino, sued the school Pangasinan Colleges of Sciences for damages
before the RTC for preventing her from taking the final exams due to her failure to pay for tickets for a
school fund-raising activity called "Rave Party and Dance Revolution”, and respondent insisted that the
complaint should first be filed with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Issues: Whether or not CHED an administrative body has the power to award damages based on the
complaint of the student-petitioner.

Whether or not the exhaustion of administrative remedies has no application in the case at bar.

Ruling: No. CHED has no power to award damages, and thus, the petitioner could not have commenced
her case before the CHED.

Exhaustion of administrative remedies has no application where a student is not asking for the reversal
of the policies of an educational institution nor demanding that she be allowed to take the final
examinations that she was prevented from taking, but is praying for damages.