Planas challenges EO 2 before Supreme Court

MANILA, Philippines – Former Nayong Pilipino Executive Director Charito Planas has asked the Supreme Court to stop Malacañang from including her in the coverage of Executive Order 2, which revokes all midnight appointments of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

She named as respondents in her petition for prohibition and mandamus with urgent request for a temporary restraining order Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, and her replacement, lawyer Apolonio Anota.

Planas, who has been executive director and trustee of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) since 2001, was reappointed on March 9, 2010 to serve until March 9, 2011.

In the petition, Planas said her reappointment does not constitute assumption of new office because she has held her position for nine years.

She also said her reappointment should not be considered as a midnight appointment because it was made before the March 10 ban on appointments to executive positions. The foundation is an attached agency of the Department of Tourism.

Planas also questioned the legality of Anota’s takeover of her office on the same day she defended the budget of the foundation in Congress.

She said her attendance in the budget hearing was ordered by Lim, who she claims failed to “specify” the cause for her removal.