MANILA – Two aides of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are under heavy fire for nepotism, particularly for allegedly converting the sensitive government agencies that they head into “closed family corporations.”
The officials are Constancia de Guzman, the chairman of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) based in Malacanang and Camilo Sabio, the head of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).
The PAGC, created by President Arroyo through an executive order, is mandated by investigate graft complaints and recommend penalties, including dismissal, against government officials, especially those occupying Cabinet positions.
On the other hand, the PCGG was established by the late president Corazon Aquino to go after the unexplained wealth of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, his family and their cronies, estimated at more than $10 billion.
An administration lawmaker, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, said: “I am no longer surprised by the actuations of these officials because this is nothing new in the present dispensation. It’s a classic example of follow the leader.”
The lawmaker refused to elaborate but he was apparently referring to criticisms that there are now four members of the Arroyo family in the House of Representatives – her two sons as well as her brother-in-law and sister-in-law.
In the case of De Guzman, PAGC employees complained that since she took over the agency, she has appointed her son, her son’s girlfriend, nephews and close family friends to sensitive positions.
For instance, the employees said the son of De Guzman is now holding the position of confidential executive assistant and his girlfriend, a young lawyer, as executive director of a PAGC division involved in investigating complaints against officials.
The other family members, such as nephews, as well as close family friends have been appointed as consultants with a minimum monthly salary equivalent to $600 each, the employees alleged.
On Monday, De Guzman announced that her son, girlfriend and some of her nephews have already resigned following increasing criticisms regarding the issue.
However, De Guzman insisted that nepotism was not involved as she pointed out that the rules of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) covered their appointments.
She explained that under CSC rules, the positions previously held by her relatives are positions that are given to people who enjoy the trust and confidence of the head of the agency.
According to De Guzman, since the PAGC handles cases that are confidential, which make such positions “risky,” she did not want to give these positions to people who could “sabotage” the work of the agency.
But she admitted the only wrong thing with her actions was that she was not sensitive enough to possible negative perceptions from the public regarding the issue.
Like De Guzman, PCGG’s Sabio also insisted there was nothing illegal in appointing his son, son-in-law, nephew, brother-in-law and other relatives to positions ranging from executive assistant to clerk in the agency because these were approved by the CSC.
But unlike the case of De Guzman, Sabio said his family members have yet to submit their letters of resignation. Nevertheless, he pointed out that they are serving as “co-terminus,” meaning that when he leaves PCGG, they should also do so.
At the same time, Sabio admitted that in his numerous official travels abroad, he was always accompanied by his wife who served as his “nurse and assistant.”
He also justified the hiring of outside lawyers by the PCGG , saying the office needed “brilliant and seasoned” legal representation in the various cases filed here and abroad to recover the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies.
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