By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
MAYOR Oscar Moreno yesterday expressed dismay that the offices of two national government line agencies in the city have been mentioned by President Duterte who has started a war on graft and corruption.
Moreno said it was disturbing that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in the city were mentioned several times.
Moreno said this even as he said it was Duterte’s prerogative to declare the offices of all presidential appointees vacant effective yesterday, a move which the Palace said was part of the President’s anti-corruption campaign.
Malacañang clarified that the order of Duterte for the presidential appointees to vacate their posts covered only the appointees of the previous administration.
“It does not apply to the current appointees,” said presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella.
Early on Sunday, Duterte declared over 1,000 appointive government positions vacant after learning that corruption still exists in the bureaucracy.
Duterte vented on the LTFRB and the LTO.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said LTFRB and LTO officials have been summoned by Duterte after he received complaints of corruption in the the two agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
Mayor Moreno said presidential appointees serve at the pleasure of the President.
“Established na man kana,” he said.
But Moreno said the President’s order does not apply to career officials who have security of tenure and are protected by civil service laws.
“It’s a matter that cannot be questioned because that is presidential prerogative,” Moreno said.
He said the national government line agencies would not be paralyzed by Duterte’s order because there are career officials who serve as assistants in situations when the offices of their superiors are vacated.
“Maka-function gihapon ang gobyerno bisan bakante ang chief sa mga department offices,” he said.
Moreno also said no one in the burearcracy can claim to have vested rights to government offices. (with reports from pna)
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