Palace: Reappointment of some fired officials ‘exception to the rule’

Malacañang on Thursday allayed concerns that President Rodrigo Duterte is sending mixed signals on his campaign against corruption when he reappointed some of those he had fired over their alleged involvement in anomalies.

Duterte has removed several officials over allegations of corruption, excessive travels, and abuse of power.

Some of them, however, have been reappointed, including Agriculture Undersecretary Jose Gabriel La Viña and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council deputy director general Melissa Avanceña Aradanas, a cousin of Duterte's common law partner Honeylet Avanceña.

Duterte also named Nicanor Faeldon as deputy administrator of the Office of the Civil Defense after the latter resigned as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs following public uproar over the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China that slipped past port inspections in May last year.

"It is not the rule. It is the exception to the rule," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters when asked to respond to concerns on the reappointment of sacked officials.

Opposition Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV had said there was "double standard" when it comes to the reappointment of sacked officials. On the other hand, ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said these officials must face charges if only to avoid perception that their dismissal could just be a form of publicity.

The Palace, however, maintained that it is the Office of the Ombudsman which has primary jurisdiction to probe and prosecute officials suspected to have been involved in graft and corruption.

"In the first place, it's political season obviously. Expect more statements like this from those seeking re-election," Roque said in an apparent reference to Aquino, who is eyeing another six-year term in the 2019 national elections. 

"But as far as the President is concerned, he has fired more than 20 all of whom are close to him. We let the people be the judge on this regard," he added. — RSJ, GMA News