PAO chief Acosta admits flunking CES exam in 2003

Chief Public Attorney Persida Acosta admitted on Thursday that she failed to pass the career executive service (CES) examination she took seven years ago. Acosta got a 55.95 percent rating in the February 2003 CES exam after she correctly answered only 101 of the 250 items, GMA News’ Tina Panganiban-Perez said in a report Thursday. Her score was short of the 80 percent rating required to pass the CES exam, the report said. Acosta said she flunked the CES exam since she did not take it seriously. “Hindi naman kasi ako nag-review eh. Subok-subok lang ‘yun. Parang katuwaan lang ‘yun dahil nagkakantiyawan dito noon eh," she said in the same report. (I didn’t review for it, that’s why. It was just a casual try. We were, like, just having fun because people here were daring each other.)
Acosta, who was fourth placer in the 1989 Bar examinations, said she did not retake the CES exam anymore because she was promoted to a higher government rank that did not require CES eligibility the following year. The Public Attorneys Office (PAO) chief however questioned why this incident is only being floated now even though she has been holding her current post for 10 years. “Masyadong personal ‘yan ha. Mga lawyer kami. We should be guided by ethics. Para kasing political na," she said. (Hey that’s too personal. We are lawyers. We should be guided by ethics. Looks like it’s turning political.) The Department of Justice released a legal opinion last week saying that Acosta and her deputies are ineligible for their posts since they have not yet passed the CES examinations. (See: DOJ opinion: PAO top execs risk losing positions) Acosta, backed by the Civil Service Commission, however maintained that she only needs law practice to qualify for her post. (See: Acosta continues fight to stay with PAO) CES Board offers retake The CES Board, the body which administers the CES examinations, meanwhile said Acosta is welcome to retake the test. “Allowed naman po ‘yung mga retake… Wala nga hong limit diyan. Ang limitasyon lang, may one-year gap bago i-allow na mag-take ulit," CES Board director Anthonette Velasco-Allones said in a separate interview with GMA News. (We allow retakes… In fact there are no limits to retakes. The only limitation is that there should be a one-year gap before one is allowed to take the exam again.) Allones added that the CES Board is not passing judgment on Acosta because she failed the exams. “Hindi namin binibigyan ng paghusga ‘yung mga ganun dahil lahat naman ay gusto namin bigyan ng pagkakataon," she said. (We’re not making judgment on such cases because we really want to give everyone a chance.) She however reiterated the board’s stand that Acosta and her deputies at the PAO need to pass the CES exams to qualify for their posts.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV