DOJ orders Abcede to remain as OIC of PCGG

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ), which has administrative control over the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), has ruled that the commissioners appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shall remain in their posts until President Aquino has named their replacements.

With the ruling, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has effectively placed PCGG commissioner Ricardo Abcede in the position to be the commission’s rightful officer-in-charge.

“Being the most senior among the commissioners, I should be the officer-in-charge of the commission,” Abcede told The STAR.

The agency had two executives claiming to be the OIC earlier this week.

Danilo Daniel, the agency’s most senior officer and the commission’s director for research, issued a memorandum order last July 2 announcing that he was assuming as OIC in view of Memorandum Circular 1 issued by Malacañang declaring that all coterminous officials appointed by Arroyo are resigned effective June 30.

With PCGG chairman Camilo Sabio resigning last June 28 and all four PCGG commissioners – Abcede, former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Narciso Nario, Tereso Javier and former Ambassador to Moscow Jaime Bautista – regarded as covered by MC 1, Daniel’s move was deemed in order.

However, Abcede issued last Tuesday his own memorandum order declaring his assumption as OIC in view of an order to him by De Lima to hold everything in abeyance at the PCGG due to a move to clarify MC 1.

He said that De Lima’s edict to “hold everything” until MC 1 was clarified effectively meant that the commissioners should stay put in their posts or they could be derelict in their duty.

Since they were still commissioners and with him being the most senior among them, Abcede said he was in line to be the OIC.

He said the “hold everything” order was issued through De Lima’s executive assistant Jeffrey Sison, which he in turn used to issue his own order announcing that he was assuming the OIC post.

Abcede explained that Daniel, as a mere division director, could not assume as OIC of the commission, which he said was a collegial body.

He said that he was assuming the OIC post to prevent the demoralization caused by Daniel’s firing of some PCGG employees.

“I don’t want to give the impression that I’m clinging to my post. I am serving as officer-in-charge being the most senior of the commissioners,” Abcede said, adding that he had no personal quarrel with Daniel.

The STAR repeatedly tried to contact Daniel but he was unavailable for comment.

PCGG employees who requested anonymity, however, said that Daniel had not announced any dismissal of any employee in his July 2 order.