Robredo orders ARMM governor to dismiss executive

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has directed Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Ansaruddin Adiong to dismiss his appointed secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications in the region for occupying an illegal post.

In a one-page memorandum dated Sept. 23, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR, Robredo cited an opinion of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) that “the appointment of a DOTC-ARMM secretary has no legal basis, and is in fact, violative of the provisions of Republic Act No. 9054 (or the) ARMM Law.”

The CSC opinion stated that “given these facts and considering that no DOTC secretary position appears to have been created in the ARMM, it is our view that the Director IV in the DOTC-ARMM is the head of office therein.”

Robredo directed Adiong to dismiss DOTC-ARMM Secretary Alnie Burahim and replaced him with Director IV Pama Dimapanat within five days from receipt of the memorandum. Dimapanat and Dialoson Amil, president of the DOTC-ARMM employees union, have sought the legal opinion of Robredo on the issue of the rightful head of the DOTC-ARMM. Robredo, in turn, asked for the opinion of the CSC.

The CSC said that the position of the DOTC-ARMM secretary is already in excess of the 10 maximum number of Cabinet secretaries in the ARMM as allowed by law, consequently, the secretary’s appointment is not legal and in violation of the provision of the ARMM Law.

No DOTC secretary position was created by law, hence the Director IV is the head of office in the DOTC-ARMM, the CSC ruling said.

Since the appointment of the DOTC secretary in the ARMM is considered illegal, the CSC rules provide that the appointee shall return all salaries received from the government and the appointing authority, in this case the ARMM governor shall be responsible for unlawful employment and liable for the pay accrued had the position been lawful.    

Officials and rank-and-file employees of the DOTC-ARMM have commended the Aquino administration for its immediate action on their concern, saying President Aquino had “once more adhered to his matuwid na landas pronouncement.” They also expressed their appreciation to Adiong for acceding to Robredo’s order.