Malacañan Palace clarified the president wanted to declare vacancy of appointive positions filled by former president Benigno Aquino III.
The Malacañan Palace clarified on Monday, August 22, that President Rodrigo Duterte was referring to the positions occupied by the appointees of the previous administration that he wants to be vacated.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella made the clarification following Duterte’s firing of all presidential appointees in government by declaring their posts vacant on an early Sunday morning press conference.
Citing continuing corruption in government “especially in the regulatory agencies”, Duterte told the appointees: “Consider your positions vacant as of this hour.” He spoke at about 2 a.m. during a press conference.
The President noted that corruption was giving “headaches to fellow human beings.”
He stressed that his order included “all” presidential appointees. “It will number in the thousands” all over the country’s bureaucracy.
He singled out the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Organization (LTO).
The President ordered the current head of the LTFRB, lawyer Martin Delgra, to report to him in Malacañan.
Duterte also pointed to the head of the LTO and all presidential appointees in the agency.
He clarified that career officials and employees were not included in the order.
However, Abella said that the president’s directive only covers those who stay in office in hold-over capacity and are supposed to leave by July 30.
Regarding the issue with LTO chief Edgar Galvante, Communications Sec. Martin Andanar said that President Duterte still has the last word if he (Galvante) stays or leaves his post.
He said Galvante is not going to resign until the president does not say so.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade assured that he will comply with President Duterte’s order to remove presidential appointees once Duterte issues a formal directive.
The LTO and LTFRB are attached agencies of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Mercado said the department supports the removal of presidential appointees.
“Once a formal directive is issued, compliance is guaranteed,” Transportation Spokesperson Cherie Mercado said.
“The DOTr as headed by Secretary Tugade collectively abhors corruption,” the transportation spokesperson said.