Ochoa, De Lima end PCGG row

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. will name the new chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

“We agreed to just immediately appoint the new chairman,” De Lima said.

Speaking to reporters, De Lima said they are looking at two or three persons for the post.

She said she and Ochoa named two different PCGG officers-in-charge last week because of a “miscommunication.”

She had met with Ochoa to resolve the leadership vacuum at PCGG, she added.

De Lima confirmed a report of The STAR over the weekend that there were two OICs of PCGG last week – Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Paras and PCGG chairman Camilo Sabio.

She appointed Paras, while Ochoa appointed Sabio, she added.

However, De Lima said no turf war is brewing between her Ochoa.

It is also untrue that they are not on speaking terms, she added.

The STAR learned that Sabio quietly reassumed his position as PCGG chairman in a holdover capacity last Thursday by virtue of a designation from Ochoa.

Sabio was named PCGG officer-in-charge after De Lima designated Paras to quell a brewing squabble with Commissioner Ricardo Abcede.

De Lima said she has submitted to President Aquino her opinion that PCGG is covered by the first memorandum circular issued by his administration declaring all coterminous officials appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as resigned as of June 30.

“We have to create a new team in PCGG,” she said.

“I recommended to the President the appointment of new commissioners, including the chairman.”

De Lima stood firm that all of Arroyo’s appointees in the PCGG, including Sabio and Abcede, were coterminous with her.