Ochoa vs De Lima over OIC at PCGG

MANILA, Philippines - In a move betraying a brewing turf war in the Cabinet, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) got a new officer-in-charge, the agency’s fourth in just a month, in the person of recently resigned chairman Camilo Sabio.

Sabio, it was learned, quietly reassumed his position as chairman of the PCGG in a “holdover” capacity last Thursday, by virtue of a designation made by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

Sources said the designation of Sabio as PCGG holdover chairman was a virtual “slap in the face” of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who recently designated Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Paras as OIC last week.

Officials revealed Ochoa and De Lima belong to different factions of supporters of President Aquino. 

Sources also revealed Ochoa and De Lima are “not on speaking terms.”

De Lima designated Paras as OIC to quell a brewing squabble with PCGG Commissioner Ricardo Abcede.

Abcede issued a memorandum order designating himself as OIC earlier in the month.

Paras also issued an order naming himself as OIC, apparently in confusion brought by the issuance of Memorandum Circular Order No.1 that declared all appointees of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo resigned effective last June 30.

Ochoa, PCGG sources said, designated Sabio as PCGG holdover chairman in a letter dated July 19.

Ochoa issued the letter, it was learned, in response to Sabio’s correspondence on July 12 informing the Executive Secretary that he is volunteering to serve as holdover chairman of PCGG to avoid disruption in the operations of the agency.

“We are aware of the pressing concerns that the PCGG needs to address, as well as its vital role in the recovery of ill-gotten wealth,” Ochoa purportedly stated in his letter to Sabio.

“The President is already in the process of selecting your successor in the chairmanship of the PCGG, in the meantime, you may attend to the daily administrative functions of the commission in order to avoid any disruption in the functions of the commission.

“The decision on operational matters shall have to be cleared with the undersigned,” Ochoa said.

Sabio’s letter, a copy of which was obtained by The STAR, had presented himself to preside over the PCGG, voicing his concerns over the agency’s efforts to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies.

“In this connection, there are pending proceedings, both here and abroad, which are not under its (PCGG’s) control and require urgent attention by the commission,” Sabio wrote.

“For this reason, if the new Commission could not be constituted sooner, may I suggest, with due respect, that we be allowed to function in the meantime until all or some of us are replaced,” said Sabio, who resigned as PCGG chairman on June 28, two days before Mr. Aquino was sworn into office as President.