Merci appointees should not accept posts

MANILA, Philippines – The eight ranking officials appointed by resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez should not accept the posts to show courtesy to the next head of the agency, a party-list congressman said.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe said these appointed officials must show "delicadeza."

"Sana magkaroon sila ng delicadeza at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang bagong Ombudsman na isulong ang reporma. Napaka-importante ng anti-corruption effort ng government natin," Batocabe said during the Usaping Balita media forum in Quezon City.

He stressed that it would be difficult for the next Ombudsman to implement reform policies in the office if he does not trust his underlings.

"The next Ombudsman has to rely on his subordinates. Mahihirapan po ang susunod na Ombudsman at baka ang mangyari ay masasabotahe lang po ang reform policy ng Ombudsman," Batocabe said.

The party-list congressman also suggested that the government stop providing budget allocations to the departments or offices that will be taken by Gutierrez's appointees.

"Ang panukala ko nga ay huwag na lang lagyan ng budget ang mga posisyon na ito," Batocabe said.

Prior to her resignation last April 29, Gutierrez appointed an assistant Ombudsman and several directors to key positions in the agency.

Though it is not considered illegal, Batocabe said that the outgoing Ombudsman should at least give the next Ombudsman the discretion to appoint his own people.

"It's a matter of delicadeza and for the interest of the service ang dapat ginawa niya. Hindi na sana siya naglagay na tao. Dapat discretion na ng susunod na Ombudsman ang paglagay ng mga tao," Batocabe said.