JPE refers Senate secretary's case to CSC

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is asking the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to determine whether Senate secretary-on-leave Emma Lirio-Reyes' term can still be extended even after she reached the government’s mandatory retirement age of 65.

“There being a legal issue whether or not Atty. Emma Lirio-Reyes may continue to perform the functions of Senate Secretary after having reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 years old, it is deemed prudent to urgently request the Civil Service Commission for legal opinion on the matter,” Enrile said in a two-page special order dated February 18.

Enrile said he cannot act on Reyes’ request to stay until June 6 when Senate adjourns sine die. He said the CSC’s legal opinion is needed “to obviate any legal issues or complications that may arise if she were allowed to continue to perform sensitive functions of the position of Senate Secretary.”

As Senate Secretary, Reyes has various powers which includes, but not limit to approving appointments, imposing measures on Senate personnel and disbursement of public funds.

In a letter to the Senate president, Reyes argued that “she could not as of yet have her retirement papers processed because of a possible problem with the documentary requirement in support of” her retirement. Reyes reached 65 years old last January 31.

Reyes also told Enrile in the letter that “in accordance with the Senate Rules, my term of office will expire upon the election of successor, I would like to respectfully request that I be allowed to stay on until June 6, 2013 when the Senate adjourns sine die.”

To avoid any leadership vacuum, Enrile designated deputy secretary for legislation Atty. Edwin Bellen to take on the responsibilities of the Senate secretary on an acting capacity.

The Senate president also advised Reyes and Bellen to “effect and ensure the immediate and orderly turn-over of all pertinent documents, records and such matters necessary for the OIC to perform his functions as such.”

Meanwhile, Dante Jimenez of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, called on Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano to act on its complaint against Enrile and other senators in connection with the distribution of additional Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) last December.

“We believe that transparency and accountability is the bedrock of all democratic in the country. We have institutions in the country.  We have strongly condemned the utter lack of accountability that characterized the distribution by the Senate President of the millions-worth of Christmas cash gifts,” Jimenez said in a letter sent to Cayetano’s office.

Cayetano is also chairperson of the Senate Ethics Committee.

“We would like to ask the Honorable Senators especially the Senate committee on ethics and privileges what happened to our complaint, or what action has been taken so far by the country in response to our concern?,” Jimenez said.

The VACC said it is “disturbed” that the senators have opted to be quiet on their complaint, rather than take any positive action on the matter.

“It is not only VACC but the public who wants to know how the Philippine Senate which is beholden to the people addresses the concern with integrity, accountability and probity as expected of them as public servants,” Jimenez said.