Deped Workers to Aquino Appointees: ‘Do not Cling to Power!’
The 40,000-strong employees union in the Department of Education yesterday urged all appointees of former President Benigno Aquino III to immediately tender their courtesy resignations or face sanctions provided under Memorandum Circular 4 of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Lawyer Domingo Alidon, National President of the DepEd National Employees Union made his call after Education Secretary Leonor Briones issued DepEd Memorandum 134 on August 24, 2016 to order all non-career presidential appointees, particularly Aquino appointees, to tender their resignation not later than August 30, 2016 or face sanctions.
MC 4 was issued last August 22,2016 by Pres. Digong to curb graft and corruption which he said continues under the stewardship of Aquino appointees.
Alidon cited the clarification of MC 4 by presidential legal counsel, lawyer Salvador Panelo, that only recommendees already approved by Pres. Digong and whose appointments are already being processed by the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) are exempted from MC4.
“Aquino appointees should not hide behind a perceived loophole of MC4 in their selfish desire to cling to power for another six (6) years,” Alidon said Alidon meanwhile, lauded and thanked Pres. Duterte and Sec. Briones for immediately acting on DepEd-NEU’s recommendation against Aquino appointees in the bureaucracy, especially in the DepEd, whom he blamed for employees’ woes and mismanagement.
“We wrote the president a few hours after he assumed office last July 1, 2016, and our letter was logged in Malacañang’s Record Office as the first document it received for Pres. Digong, to report abuses of some incumbent Aquino appointees and to recommend their replacements. Thank you Mr. President, for your action,” Alidon said.
Alidon stressed that DepEd –NEU serves as the People’s watchdog against graft and corruption in the DepEd pursuant to Executive Order 180 and its amended implementing rules and regulations.
