Duterte gives Aquino appointees 7 days to hand over courtesy resignation

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday issued Memorandum Circular No. 4 ordering the presidential appointees of the past administration to hand over their courtesy resignation within seven days.

In an earlier news conference by presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, he said that Duterte's order only applies to the appointees of former President Benigno Aquino III as well as the agencies that were made reference to.

In the memorandum circular signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday, the following are exempted from the President's order:

• newly-appointed Cabinet Secretaries, Undersecretaries, and Assistant Secretaries in their respective departments, including presidential advisers and assistants
• other officials in the Executive Department, including state universities and colleges, and government owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), appointed by the incumbent President
• career officials as defined by the Civil Service Laws, rules, and regulations
• members of the judiciary
• officials whose offices are created by virtue of the Philippine Constitution such as Constitutional Commissions and Ombudsman
• those whose appointments are currently being processed or who may be appointed by the President shortly after the effectivity of the memorandum circular

The memorandum circular stated that presidential appointees in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be dealt with separately.

Only Duterte or Medialdea by authority of the President may act on courtesy resignations, but they will consider the recommendation of the appointee's department or agency head.

Until their resignation is acted upon, the officials are expected to carry on with their work.

When their resignation has been accepted, the next-in-rank will take their post as officer-in-charge until Duterte appoints a replacement.

"Any presidential appointee covered by this Memorandum Circular who fails or refuses without a valid reason to tender his or her courtesy resignation with the period stated above may be held administratively liable and meted the appropriate penalty," it said. —JST, GMA News