Palace: All Marcos appointees under ‘performance review’

MANILA — A Palace official stated that the performance evaluation initiated by Malacañang for all presidential appointees does not aim to remove critics of President Marcos.

Malacañang has instructed presidential appointees, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), appointed before February 1, 2023, to update their personal information and provide evidence of having no pending criminal or administrative cases.

This directive encompasses presidential appointees from June 30, 2022, to January 30, 2023, which some groups argue includes those appointed during the tenure of Marcos’ former executive secretary, Vic Rodriguez.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil asserted that there is no intention to purge critics of Marcos, including those appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte. Garafil emphasized that the order is part of the government’s routine assessment of the performance and qualifications of presidential appointees, including those appointed by Marcos.

The memorandum issued by Presidential Management Staff chief Elaine Masukat on February 2 instructed the appointees to submit their updated Personal Data Sheet.

Additionally, the appointees were directed to provide clearances from the Civil Service Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Ombudsman, and the anti-graft court, Sandiganbayan.

Garafil clarified, “This directive is for all presidential appointees to ensure that those who are qualified will remain in office,” referring to the memo circulated online. The appointees are required to submit all necessary documents to the PMS within 30 days of the issuance of the order.

The memo was sent to all heads of departments, agencies, offices, including GOCCs, government financial institutions, as well as state universities and colleges.

There were suspicions that the order aimed to remove critics of the Marcos administration, including those appointed during the presidencies of Rodrigo Duterte and Rodriguez’s tenure as executive secretary.

Critics suggested that the PMS issued the memorandum after Rodriguez participated in a Davao City prayer rally last month to oppose Charter change through a people’s initiative advocated by Marcos’ allies in the House of Representatives.

Rodriguez resigned in September 2022 following controversy over the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s decision to import 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

Duterte has expressed the possibility of Marcos being ousted like his late father and namesake if efforts to amend the Constitution proceed.

The former leader also accused Marcos of being a drug addict. Marcos dismissed his predecessor’s accusations, attributing them to Duterte’s use of the addictive painkiller fentanyl.

During the launch rally for the administration’s governance branding “Bagong Pilipinas” last month, Marcos reminded state workers that they serve the people, not their masters.

Marcos’ priority measures include the National Government Rightsizing Program bill.

In a speech in April last year, Marcos clarified that the rightsizing program advocated by the administration is not intended to lay off state workers but to enhance their skills to improve government services.