Another PCGG commissioner resigns

After Presidential Commission on Good Government chairwoman Haydee Yorac announced her resignation the other day, another PCGG official has decided to leave the agency.

A source, requesting anonymity, said PCGG Commissioner Vyva Aguirre has resigned and will leave the commission by the end of the month.

Because of this new development, PCGG Commissioner Camilo Sabio, who was appointed officer-in-charge, will find himself lacking three commissioners — two to replace Aguirre and Yorac and a third to take over his post.

Aguirre, meanwhile, was not available for comment as her mobile phone was turned off and her secretary said she was out of the office having an "outside meeting."

Her resignation was confirmed by PCGG Commissioner William Dichoso, but he could not state the reason for Aguirre’s decision to resign.

It is said that Aguirre was Yorac’s closest ally and her "right hand." For the past four years, the two had been working on the case to recover late strongman Ferdinand Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth.

Sabio said he is not in a position to discuss Aguirre’s reasons for deciding to leave the PCGG. "I think you should talk to her personally. But whatever her decision is, I’m sure the government will respect it," he said.

Sabio added it is up to President Arroyo to choose who will fill the three vacant slots at the PCGG, which needs five officials — one chairman and four commissioners — in order to function. By May 2, when Sabio takes Yorac’s place, he will be left with Dichoso as his lone commissioner.

Meanwhile, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye denied yesterday reports that Yorac resigned due to pressure from Malacañang.

He said in a radio interview that it was very clear from Yorac’s letter to Mrs. Arroyo that she resigned because she wanted to return to private law practice.

"The news reports were slanted, but she said she wanted to move on and the government is very thankful for her valuable service that led to significant Supreme Court decisions," Bunye said.

In a statement released later in the day, Bunye said Malacañang respected Yorac’s desire to return to private life and "believes the newly appointed PCGG chief will certainly fill her shoes and carry on her crusade with equal determination and confidence."

Sabio said he is grateful to the President for having placed her trust and confidence in him.

"I will do my utmost best to fulfill the mandate of my business," he said. Referring to Yorac, he added he was "deeply honored" to have worked under her. Sabio declined to comment any further, noting he had yet to formally assume his post. Bunye said Sabio would likely take his oath early next week.

Senators, however, maintained that Yorac’s resignation was the result of pressure from Malacañang. Sen. Joker Arroyo said her resignation was "ill-timed" and that "nobody would believe she wasn’t pressured."

Arroyo said Malacañang is digging itself into a hole by accepting Yorac’s resignation since it is currently faced with a number of problems — the alleged revival of jueteng, misuse of the multibillion-peso coco levy fund, and the management of government shares in San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

"There was pressure. We weren’t born yesterday. They are all intertwined — the coco levy, San Miguel and Yorac," Arroyo said.

He added the government made a mistake by agreeing to skip the SMC stock rights offering held last month, and faces losing its 27-percent stake in the company since it did not have the money to participate in the offering. — With Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Katherine Adraneda