MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang directed yesterday all political appointees of former president Benigno Aquino III to submit their courtesy resignation within seven days to give President Duterte a free hand to curb corruption in the bureaucracy.
The directive was contained in Memorandum Circular No. 4 issued and signed yesterday by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
The memorandum circular was issued a day after Duterte declared all appointive posts vacant out of frustration over the persistence of corruption in some agencies.
“All presidential appointees are hereby directed to tender their unqualified courtesy resignations within seven calendar days from the date hereof,” the memorandum dated Aug. 22 read.
The memorandum does not cover Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries including presidential advisers or assistants appointed by Duterte.
Also excluded are other officials in the executive department including state universities and colleges and government-owned and controlled corporations appointed by Duterte;
Career officials, members of the judiciary, officials working for offices created by the Philippine Constitution, and those whose appointments are being processed or who may be appointed by the President shortly after the memorandum takes effect.
Presidential appointees in the military and the police “shall be dealt with separately.”
Appointees were directed to submit their resignations to the heads of their departments or offices. They were also ordered to submit a copy of their resignation letter to the Office of the President through the Office of the Executive Secretary.
For state-run firms, courtesy resignations shall be submitted to the departments exercising supervision over them, the memorandum stated.
“Only the President or the Executive Secretary, by authority of the President, may act on courtesy resignations, taking into consideration the recommendation of the department or agency head concerned and in accordance with existing laws and jurisprudence,” it read.
“Appointees will continue to report for work and perform their functions until their resignations are acted upon.”
If Duterte accepts the resignation of the head of an agency or state-run firm, the deputy or the most senior career official shall act as officer-in-charge until a replacement is appointed, Medialdea said.
Any appointee covered by the memorandum who refuses to resign without a valid reason may be held administratively liable and meted the appropriate penalty, the memorandum stated.
Medialdea also reminded all officials “to comply strictly with ethical norms of honesty, integrity, efficiency and fidelity to the people they are sworn to serve and protect.”
Meanwhile, President Duterte’s declaration that all government posts are now vacant does not cover his appointees, Malacañang said.
“This refers to appointees from the past administration and does not apply to current appointees,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a press conference.
On Sunday, Duterte declared all government posts vacant as he expressed disappointment that corruption persists in some agencies despite his warnings.
He specifically named the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as among the agencies beset with corruption.
Presidential communications secretary Martin Andanar, however, clarified that LTO chief Edgar Galvante and LTFRB chair Martin Delgra III are not being asked to resign.
Duterte made clear that the declaration of vacancy does not cover career officials as well as Cabinet officials who assumed office last June 30.
He assured the public that the declaration would not disrupt the delivery of services as deputies would take over the functions vacated by their superiors.
Some 6,000 appointive officials would be affected by the declaration.
Presidential communications secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte is “very particular” about the performance of his appointees.
“If he is not satisfied with the management of new appointees, he would summon the officials. If you notice, many of the positions remain vacant. This is due to the very strict vetting process of the selection committee,” Andanar told Radyo 5.
“Those who did not submit courtesy resignations should resign from their posts,” he said.
However, some aspects of Duterte’s declaration remain unclear.
Palace officials could not say whether the declaration covers ambassadors to other countries and appointees in constitutional bodies.
Ready to vacate posts
Both chiefs of the LTO and the LTFRB said yesterday they are ready to vacate their posts anytime, pending official order from Malacañang.
However at the LTFRB, business is going on as usual as its chairman, lawyer Martin Delgra, awaits a formal directive from higher authorities.
Delgra is also expected to report to Malacañang this week upon orders of President Duterte, after he declared all appointive government posts vacant to address corruption issues.
The President described the LTO and LTFRB as among the most corrupt agencies in the country.
For his part, LTO chief Edgar Galvante said he was advised to stay put while Duterte’s declaration is being clarified.
Although services and transactions within the agency continue, Galvante suspended the signing of important documents pending an official order on his status as LTO chief.
He said goodbye to employees during the agency’s flag-raising ceremony yesterday.
MMDA chief steps down
At the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Emerson Carlos, officer-in-charge, stepped down from office on Friday, two days before the President declared appointive government positions vacant.
Thomas Orbos, the agency’s general manager, replaced Carlos as officer-in-charge.
A source at the MMDA said Carlos resigned after Malacañang appointed Julia Nebrija as the agency’s assistant general manager for operations.
He stepped down as MMDA chairman at the end of the Aquino administration, but returned to the agency as officer-in-charge while serving as assistant general manager for operations. – With Romina Cabrera, Mike Frialde