Ombudsman asks over 200 new hires to tender courtesy resignations

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has asked the 204 new hires of the Office of the Ombudsman to tender their courtesy resignations and subsequently reapply to their posts.

Remulla said these new hires were hired in July or towards the end of the term of his predecessor, former Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

“May mga admissions into the Ombudsman's office, mga hiring, and unfortunately, last July, there were 204 new hires in the Office of the Ombudsman. I will ask these 204 people to reapply kasi may six-month probationary period,” Remulla said.

(There were 204 new hires last July and I will ask them to reapply because they are still within the six-month probationary period.) 

“I will ask them to reapply, lest they become they be treated as midnight appointees. Ako naman, in good faith yan (asking them to reapply). I hope they're all in good faith als [in heeding my call]. They can reapply…and some of them will probably hand in courtesy resignations just to show good faith,” he added.

Remulla said that him being the new Ombudsman should be able to do proper vetting on the Ombudsman personnel to ensure that they are up to the task.

“You don't want to be arriving in a place, tapos lahat ng empty seats na in-expect mo, para sa mga kasama mo, na-fill up na bigla. Hindi naman dapat ganun. So marami kasing, ‘yun parang considered as midnight appointees. So we have to work [on] that policy,” Remulla said.

(You are going to bring in people for the job and expecting empty seats, only to find out it's filled out. It should not work that way. There are a lot of midnight appointees.)

Asked to specify the position of the 204 new hires, Remulla replied “lahat ng klaseng posisyon eh.”

(They occupy all kinds of positions.) 

“We're getting the rundown now. And I am asking the Civil Service to assist us in evaluating these cases. Kasi nga, ang Civil Service Commission naman is very forthcoming, and they have communicated to us their willingness to help us with this issue of midnight appointees,” Remulla said.

An Ombudsman has a fixed term of seven years and can only be removed by impeachment. –NB, GMA Integrated News