Review of midnight appointments on; non-career posts vacant

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino ordered yesterday the review of midnight appointments made by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as one way of stopping abuses in government.

Mr. Aquino’s Memorandum Circular No. 1 issued by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. also declared all non-career executive service positions vacant as of yesterday and extended the services of contractual employees until July 31.

“To those who have been put in positions by unlawful means, this is my warning: We will begin earning back the trust of our people by reviewing midnight appointments. Let this serve as a warning to those who intend to continue the crooked ways that have become the norm for too long,” the President said in his inaugural address.

One of the midnight appointees of Arroyo was Chief Justice Renato Corona, who attended the President’s inauguration even though the new Chief Executive chose to take his oath before Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Mr. Aquino earlier said an SC justice could only be removed through impeachment.

Arroyo likewise appointed officials to numerous government posts just before the two-month ban on appointments took effect last March 10. Aquino said that this was apparently meant to skirt the ban.

Former Armed Forces chief Gen. Delfin Bangit decided to retire early after Mr. Aquino said he would not retain him.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Efraim Genuino resigned before the new President assumed office.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Mr. Aquino’s first order was specific to non-career executive service officers (CESO).

He said the offices to be vacated would be assumed by an officer-in-charge while the contractual employees would be interviewed to see whether they were qualified to stay in their jobs.

Lacierda said they are still discussing the legalities and fine-tuning whatever legal decisions they would take to ensure that these would be upheld.

He said non-CESO appointees number more than 4,000.

Under MC 1, all positions occupied by non-CESO presidential appointees were declared vacant as of noon yesterday.

The most senior CESO shall take over as officer-in-charge to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities of the position until July 31 or until a replacement has been appointed and has qualified, whichever comes first.

The contracts of service of contractual employees that expired yesterday were extended up to July 31 unless otherwise earlier terminated or renewed by the heads of the hiring agencies in accordance with specific needs and requirements and subject to pertinent administrative and auditing rules and regulations.

The order said services rendered by the contractual employees would be compensated in accordance with existing civil service, budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

The non-CESO and contractual personnel were directed to turn over records, documents, books, equipment and other properties of their respective offices to their successors.

“We are confident that we need not worry about the operations being affected because every agency has a corps of competent career service personnel who are familiar with the jobs of those whose positions have now been declared vacant,” Ochoa said.