Apostol reminds David: ‘You're a Gloria appointee too’

After disclosing that many presidential appointees may not be qualified for civil service, Civil Service Commission chairwoman Karina David received a reminder from Malacañang Thursday that she is a "Gloria appointee" too. Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol said David's qualifications were not questioned or scrutinized when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed her to the CSC shortly after the EDSA 2 revolution. "Di ko sinasabing si Karina di qualified (pero) si Gloria naglagay sa kanya sa position niya (I'm not saying Karina's not qualified but she must remember Gloria put her there)," Apostol said in an interview over dzBB radio. The CSC website said David, a University of the Philippines professor, was appointed to the CSC on Feb. 23, 2001 to replace Corazon Alma de Leon, who is now secretary general of the Philippine National Red Cross. Apostol also blamed Congress for the situation, saying Malacañang always certified as urgent a bill reforming the civil service but lawmakers never got around to passing it. "Sine-certify iyang bill, di pinapasa (The bill is being certified but it was never passed)," he said. But David maintained her stance that many presidential appointees may not be qualified, as Malacañang does not always follow a rule to make sure the appointee is civil service eligible. In a separate interview, David said that while the president can select appointees, he or she must ensure eligibles are occupying the posts in question within one year. "May karapatan ang pangulo mag-appoint sa exceptional situation. Pero in one year kailangan kumuha ng may eligibility. Ang nangyayari sa atin di natutupad ang tinakda ng batas (The president has the right to make appointments in exceptional situations. But in one year, they must be replaced with those with civil service eligibility. Currently, this is not being followed)," David told dzBB radio. "Di pwedeng kasuhan ang pinakamataas na opisyal at di kami mas mataas sa pangulo. Kaya inaasahan natin habang tumataas ka sa pamahalaan lalo ka naging matuwid at matapat sa pagsunod ng batas (We cannot sue the highest official of the land and we're not above the president. What we can only hope for is that those occupying higher positions will have the decency to be straight and true in following the law)," she added. - GMANews.TV