‘BF’ to probe midnight appointments

Public Works and Highways Secretary Bayani Fernando vowed yesterday to look into reported "midnight designations and recommendations" made by his predecessor, now Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong.

"I would look into them," he said. "But I would give Secretary Datumanong the benefit of the doubt. I think Secretary Datumanong was in a better position to know these people and so he may have spared me the agony of choosing from among them."

Datumanong could have violated a merit-selection plan which he had supposedly signed during his two-year stint as public works and highways secretary.

The STAR had obtained a copy of a "promotion selection process," which the Civil Service Commission had approved.

The document states on page 13: "...the purpose of filling up positions in the 3rd level, including assistant district engineer and presidential appointments for recommendation to the President of the Philippines, established the DPWH Executive Committee (EXCOM)..."

But during his last seven days at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Datumanong was said to have unilaterally recommended eight people to President Arroyo for specific positions.

Datumanong reportedly designated about 35 regional directors and district engineers through a "mere" department order.

All the recommendations and designations were made between Jan. 7 and 14.

Datumanong was said to have named people to positions which were not vacant, the ensuing confusion later causing their appointments to be put on hold.

However, Datumanong denied yesterday having made any "midnight appointments" before he left the DPWH.

"Yes, I made recommendations but there is no appointment," he said. "There was assignment of positions. But I think recommendations are (only) recommendations. After all the final decision is with the President."

Datumanong could not remember "how many I recommended" while he was "trying to move" some DPWH bureau directors.

The other day, The STAR reported that Datumanong had increased the number of DPWH field officials to 180 during his two-year stint as department secretary.