Palace to continue enforcing EOs on truth body, midnight appointments

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday said it would continue to enforce Executive Orders 1 and 2, both of which have become controversial, because there have been no restraining orders from the Supreme Court (SC).

EO 1 created the Truth Commission, a fact-finding body mandated to investigate corruption allegations against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now representative of the second district of Pampanga, and officials of her administration.

EO 2 revokes all midnight appointments made by Arroyo during her term as president.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the findings of the Truth Commission would not be reviewed by the Palace unlike what was done to the findings of the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) in connection with the Aug. 23 hostage crisis at the Luneta Grandstand.

“We’re very confident that it will be sustained by the Supreme Court,” Ochoa said of EO 1. Regarding EO 2, Ochoa noted that the SC had ruled on only one case.

The ruling, he said, does not affect the situation of all midnight appointees until all their cases are brought before the Court.

The SC has issued a status quo ante order on the case of Bai Omera Dianalan-Lucman, commissioner and secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

Ochoa also said they are continuously reviewing the status of non-career service executive officials whose terms would expire at the end of the month under Memorandum Circular 2.

“It’s a continuing process. There are many of them who have already been re-appointed. Some were already terminated from the service. I cannot give you a complete answer on that because the cases vary, it covers quite a wide scope,” he said.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Truth Commission, which has begun its work, will continue to perform its function until ordered to stop by the Court.