Remulla: 99 last-minute hires at high Ombudsman positions 'questionable'

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said 99 of 204 last-minute hires of the Office of the Ombudsman are currently occupying high-level posts in his office, noting that the hiring strategy is definitely questionable.

"These 204 persons, we identified 99 of them are Salary Grade 25 and above. It's a very high, very high position in government. And for them to be hired at the last minute and to occupy pivotal positions, higher-spread positions, highest paid positions… positions paid with a premium, at the last minute, I think it's questionable," Remulla said.

The Ombudsman said his office has issued a memorandum asking all of the 204 hires for their courtesy resignations. Of particular interest, however, are persons occupying Salary Grade 25 and above, the Ombudsman said.

"Kasi, ito 'yung mga taong mayroon talagang sinasabi sa functions ng office na ito from evaluation to PI (preliminary investigation) to prosecution," Remulla said.

(These are the people who really have a say on the functions of this office, from evaluation to preliminary investigation to prosecution.)

Remulla said the last-minute hires occupy the following positions:

• Special Prosecutor
• Graft Investigator
• Assistant Ombudsman
• Director IV

"Ang dami nito eh (There's a lot of them). Salary Grade 26, 27, Salary Grade 20. But we will check [their competence]. It is courtesy resignation, it is not automatically accepted," Remulla said.

"Apat ang bigla na lang na-promote or na-hire na for some reason (Four were suddenly promoted or hired for some reason). We don't know if they were promoted or hired. But it holds the hallmark of midnight appointments," he added.

"They will have to reapply. We will evaluate again. I hope they will bear with us because security of tenure ensues in six months. Actually, we can go all the way to May. We're starting from May 29 up.  It is disappointing but we just have to do this," Remulla added.

Remulla then said that the 204 new hires included newly minted lawyers who were hired for a high position, bypassing more tenured Ombudsman personnel.

"Marami kasi dito, fresh lawyer lang. Ang salary grade nila napaka-taas na kaagad. I think it's unfair…and [affects] the morale of the other lawyers here. So, we're on that," Remulla added.

(Many of them are fresh lawyers. They got high salary grades right away. I think it's unfair... and [affects] the morale of other lawyers here. So, we're on that.)

The seven-year term of Remulla's predecessor, former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, ended last July 27. 

GMA News Online has requested comment from Martires on the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. — VDV, GMA Integrated News