Key posts for GMA manicurist, gardener defended

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang justified yesterday President Arroyo’s move to appoint her manicurist and gardener to top-level posts in two government agencies.

Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar, however, was at a loss on how to explain the actual qualifications of Anita Carpon and Armando Macapagal, reportedly Mrs. Arroyo’s manicurist and gardener, respectively.

Carpon was appointed to the board of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), and Macapagal as deputy of the Luneta Park administration.

Olivar said he has no information on the qualifications of the two appointees.

The appointment of Carpon in particular has drawn sharp criticism.

“Having a relationship of trust with the President should not count against someone,” Olivar told AFP.

Carpon is a government employee and was named to the agency’s board to represent low-paid workers the fund is serving, he added.

“The President wants the poorer government employees represented in the board because they are the ones with the housing needs,” Olivar said.

The appointments were exposed by STAR columnist Jarius Bondoc earlier this week. The appointments raised a howl even from Mrs. Arroyo’s own household staff.

As Pag-IBIG trustee Carpon will make P130,000 a month in per diem, double that of the President herself, plus perks, for a fixed two-year term.

Bondoc insinuated that Macapagal’s appointment could be irregular if he was found to be related to the President, as the Constitution and anti-graft laws prohibit government officials from appointing or transacting with relatives.

Olivar said Carpon “holds a government item. I’m still awaiting the rest of her background. It is not correct to question someone just because of his or her low stature in life.

“As a matter of fact, the (Pag-IBIG) Board reserves one seat to be held by a representative of government employees so this (appointment) is appropriate for the lady in question,” he added.

He, however, conceded that it was “reasonable to ask for more information about their credentials.”

Olivar said when Mrs. Arroyo assumed office in 2001, only one-third of senior posts were held by career executives and the figure went up to over half to include some Cabinet officials months before she steps down from power on June 30.

“So I think the President cannot be accused of debasing the standards of government performances as a matter of principle on the basis of these two appointments because the rest of her records shows otherwise,” he said.

He said he knew Bondoc as a fellow student activist during the Marcos dictatorship. He said he had hoped that Bondoc allowed the two appointees to explain their side.

Meanwhile, critics slammed Mrs. Arroyo’s move, saying she should not appoint unqualified household staff to high-paying government jobs.

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) senatorial candidate Joey de Venecia said Mrs. Arroyo should not exploit her final days “to stuff key government offices with people whose only qualification is their personal loyalty to her.”

PMP vice-presidential bet Jejomar Binay, for his part, warned that the President might now suddenly appoint one of her son Mikey Arroyo’s horses to the board of a government-owned and controlled corporation.

He reminded Malacañang that “mandatory contributions” by employees to the Pag-IBIG fund “partake the nature of a payroll tax so it should be careful on who to appoint as trustees of that fund.” With Rodel Clapano