MANILA - A party-list lawmaker has accused Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairperson Patricia Licuanan of approving her own foreign trips instead of seeking Malacañang's nod.

In a Facebook post, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles questioned whether Licuanan usurped the powers of the President by approving her own travel authority.

He made the allegations amid a seeming crackdown against officials in the executive branch who have made excessive foreign trips, with President Rodrigo Duterte firing several of those accused.

The President recently issued restrictions on trips abroad among officials under him.

• Duterte restricts foreign trips in executive branch

On Friday, Nograles posted copies of supposed documents showing Licuanan's "Authority to Travel Abroad" which she allegedly issued for herself.

Nograles emphasized that cabinet officials and those of equal rank should seek the approval of the President for authority to travel abroad.

"Grave misconduct is defined by the Supreme Court as flagrant disregard of established rules, among others," he said.

Licuanan, however, belied Nograles' claims and insisted that she seeks the President's approval for all her trips, including personal ones.

“I get a travel authority from the Office of the President for all my travel including personal trips. This is well documented. I issue travel authorities for all CHEd officials but not for myself," she said in a statement Saturday.

She added that the photos of supposed documents Nograles had posted online appear to be "the internal Authority to Travel Abroad, which is routinely used to process the funds and is an attachment for securing Malacañang approval."

CHEd International Affairs Staff Director Lily Freida Milla backed Licuanan's defense, saying all of the chairperson's travel authorities are approved by Malacañang.

“All official travels of the Chairperson are covered by appropriate travel authorities from the Executive Secretary and signed by Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra,” Milla said in the same CHEd statement.

"The Chairperson is allowed to travel business class for long-haul flights as warranted under OP (Office of the President) Memorandum Circular No. 7, series 2010 and because of her vertigo,” she added.