All presidential appointees of the previous Philippine administration were given seven calendar days from August 22 to submit their courtesy resignation following President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement declaring all their positions vacant.
A memorandum circular signed by executive secretary Salvador Medialdea on August 22 said courtesy resignations of appointed officials by the previous administration should be submitted to the heads of departments or offices exercising supervision or control over the appointee, or to which the latter’s office is attached.
Exempt from the order are newly appointed cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries including presidential advisers or assistants with the equivalent rank; other officials in the executive department, including state universities and colleges, and government-owned or -controlled corporations, appointed by the incumbent President; career officials; judiciary; officials whose offices are created by virtue of the Philippine Constitution; and those whose appointments are frequently being processed or who may be appointed by the President shortly after the effectivity of the memorandum circular.
Presidential appointees in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police shall be dealt with separately, the order noted.
Only the President, or the Executive Secretary by authority of the President, may act on courtesy resignations.
“Until any action on their courtesy resignations is taken by the President, appointive officials shall continue to report for work and perform their normal duties and responsibilities,” the order noted.
If the President accepts the resignation of the head of an agency or GOCC, the deputy or other next-in-rank shall act as OIC until a replacement is appointed by the President.
Any presidential appointee covered by the order who fails or refuses without a valid reason to tender his or her courtesy resignation within the period provided “may be held administratively liable and meted the appropriate penalty.”
Medialdea said the order was issued “in view of the President’s desire to rid the bureaucracy of corruption.”
On August 21, Duterte noted in a press conference that “Until now, in my provincial visits, I still hear corruption being committed by people, especially in the regulatory agencies.”
This pushed him to “declare all your positions all throughout the country vacant.”
The President specifically mentioned Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office, which based on reports to him, have corrupt officials.
Department of Transportation assistant secretary Cherie Mercado-Santos said the two agency heads are not covered by the order to vacate their posts but that Duterte will be meeting with them.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) OIC Emerson Carlos has resigned on August 19, after serving for more than a month in a holdover capacity.
Thomas Orbos replaces Carlos as the new general manager of the authority. Orbos formerly served MMDA as assistant general manager for planning in 2014. World Bank urban specialist consultant and Inclusive Mobility Network president Julia Nebrija was also appointed MMDA assistant general manager for operations.
Also affected by Duterte’s order is Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia.
Image courtesy of adamr at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
