De Lima revokes order; Sabio remains as PCGG OIC

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has revoked the designation of Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Presidential Commission on Good Governant (PCGG) after former chairman Camilo Sabio returned to the agency on orders of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

“I took back my designation in the PCGG after I received the executive secretary’s order,” she said.

“Former chairman Sabio remains as OIC until we appoint a new chairman soon.”

De Lima said Malacañang would name the new PCGG chairman next week.

She and Ochoa are considering three candidates, she added.

Last week, Paras and Sabio were named PCGG OIC by De Lima and Ochoa.

The STAR learned Sabio quietly reassumed his position as PCGG chairman in a holdover capacity last Thursday, by virtue of a designation from Ochoa.

The designation of Sabio came after De Lima named Paras to quell a brewing squabble with PCGG Commissioner Ricardo Abcede.

De Lima said she has submitted to President Aquino her opinion that PCGG is covered by the first memorandum circular declaring officials appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as deemed resigned as of June 30.

De Lima insisted that all appointees of Arroyo in the PCGG, including Sabio and Abcede, were coterminous with her.