Clavano: Courtesy resignation of last-minute promotions, new hires not revenge

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s call for the 204 last-minute hires and promotions of his predecessor, Samuel Martires, to submit their courtesy resignations is not revenge but a call to be loyal to the office and not just to a person, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said on Monday.

He was referring to Remulla’s Memorandum Circular 3 which encouraged new hires under Salary Grade 25 to 29 who were hired or promoted from May to July – or in the last three months of Martires’ tenure as the country’s anti-graft chief – to file their courtesy resignations.

“Ang gusto lang talaga kasi ni Ombudsman is to start on the right foot. Ngayon, pagpasok po kasi ni Ombudsman, nakita po niya through the CSC (Civil Service Commission) that there was an uptick of appointments made by the previous administration very near the end of his term,” Clavano said in a press conference.

(The Ombudsman just wants to start on the right foot. When he came in, he saw through the CSC that there was an uptick of appointments made by the previous administration very near the end of his term.) 

“Kaya po, nagulat na lang din si Ombudsman na noong seven years, only the last few months were used for the appointment and promotion of several employees here at the office of the Ombudsman. Again, having said that, it is not an act of retaliation, it is not an act of revenge, but a call to be loyal to the office at hindi sa isang tao o sa isang personality,” Clavano added.

(The Ombudsman was caught off guard that for the last seven years, only the last few months were used for the appointment and promotion of several employees here at the office of the Ombudsman. Again, having said that, it is not an act of retaliation, it is not an act of revenge, but a call to be loyal to the office and not to a person or a personality.)

While there were some who already heeded Remulla’s call, Clavano admitted that not everybody is on board.  

“Meron na pong nag-tender ng kanilang courtesy resignation. I am not aware of how many have submitted but there’s a good number that have submitted already and have shown their good faith to the Ombudsman regarding their recent appointments or recent promotions,” Clavano said.

(There are already those who tendered courtesy resignation. I am not aware of how many have submitted but there’s a good number that have submitted already and have shown their good faith to the Ombudsman regarding their recent appointments or recent promotions.)

“There are certain moves na nag-gather sila ng support para hindi mag-file ng courtesy resignation. And the Ombudsman is aware of that. But again, he’s giving another chance to these individuals na mag-file talaga ng courtesy resignation nila as a show of good faith,” Clavano said.

(There are certain moves wherein people are seeking support so they won’t need to file a courtesy resignation. And the Ombudsman is aware of that. But again, he’s giving another chance to these individuals to file their courtesy resignations as a show of good faith.)

Clavano said the new hires and those newly-promoted should not take offense over Remulla’s move if their hiring was above board.

“Dahil pag wala naman po tayong tinatago in terms of the procedure in which they were appointed or they were hired or promoted, then there’s really nothing to worry about. Gusto lang natin makita na they are willing to put full trust in the new administration and specifically with yung Ombudsman himself,” Clavano pointed out.

(If there is nothing to hide in terms of the procedure in which they were appointed or they were hired or promoted, then there’s really nothing to worry about. We just want to see that they are willing to put full trust in the new administration and specifically, the Ombudsman himself.) 

“I don’t think we can really label it as yung kinokontra na mismo ng ibang tao si Ombudsman. But it’s just, siguro, they feel and they believe that their position is worth protecting without really seeing the whole philosophy behind why the Ombudsman is doing this. Hindi naman po ‘yan para manggipit or para lang insultuhin ang mga taong na promote or invalidate yung kanilang mga appointments but it’s more of a show of good faith and a pledge of loyalty to the office,” Clavano added.

(I don’t think we can really label it as some people going against the Ombudsman. But it’s just, maybe they feel and they believe that their position is worth protecting without really seeing the whole philosophy behind why the Ombudsman is doing this. This is not to put them in a tight spot or insult those who are promoted, or invalidate their appointments, but it’s more of a show of good faith and a pledge of loyalty to the office.)

Asked what would be the consequence for personnel who will refuse to tender courtesy resignation, Clavano replied, “Well, we will cross the bridge when we get there.”

“We don’t want to preempt anything. Again, we just use this opportunity to urge them and encourage them to file their courtesy resignations as a show of good faith,” he added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News