No papers yet for Danga for NPO post - Dureza

MANILA, Philippines - After getting much flak on the matter, Malacañang on Wednesday showed signs of backtracking over the appointment of retired Navy Vice Admiral Tirso Danga as head of the National Printing Office. Outgoing Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, whose office supervises the NPO, said Danga's appointment is still not a sure thing and that a search is still being undertaken. "There is a search being undertaken. Ang proseso ng pagpili ng opisyales dumadaan sa search committee, hindi pa lumalabas sa search sino ba talaga [The process of selection goes through the search committee, which has yet to reveal its findings]," Dureza said in an interview on dzXL radio. Danga was linked to the "Hello, Garci" controversy as he headed the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines when the 2004 elections were held. The "Garci" tapes stemmed from conversations allegedly recorded by the Isafp, the most controversial of which is the supposed conversations between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. Critics of the administration described the conversations as proof of electoral fraud that marred the May 2004 presidential elections. No appointment papers In the radio interview, Dureza said he has yet to see the appointment papers of Danga. "Sa gobyerno kasi, habang wala ka pang papel na appointment, hindi sigurado officially [In government, so long as you don't have your appointment papers, it's not official]" he said. Dureza's claim was a turnaround of sorts from last Saturday, when Presidential Management Staff head Cerge Remonde, who will replace Dureza as Press secretary, said Danga got the post. "I was told by Secretary Dureza that Admiral Danga will be installed as head of NPO," Remonde had said over government-run dzRB radio last Saturday. But Dureza insisted the search is still being undertaken, and that he as Press secretary has yet to see any official appointment paper for Danga. He said he is waiting for documentation from the search committee "before it goes to the President for signature." "There is a search being undertaken, the search committee in the Palace as far as I know, under sa akin ang NPO [the NPO is under me], I have not seen any official paper yet of an appointment," he said. Earlier, poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting voiced "grave concern" over Danga's appointment even as Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. pushed for a Senate investigation into the appointment. - GMANews.TV