|
Thursday, November 27, 2003
DOJ execs protest outsider's appointment
By Benjamin B. Pulta
DEPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) officials are up in arms over the endorsement of the promotion of an alleged "fixer" in the department secretary's office.
In a letter to President Arroyo, 23 senior and mid-ranking officers of the DOJ's Legal Staff, whose duties include the preparation of crucial "legal opinions" on government contracts, protest the appointment of lawyer Kenny H. Tantuico.
Tantuico, who is currently executive assistant of the Office of the Secretary with a Salary Grade 25, had been recommended by Justice Sec. Simeon Datumanong to the position of assistant chief state counsel (Salary Grade 29), whic was vacated by now Court of Appeals Justice Rosalinda A. Vicente.
A University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law alumni, Tantuico was brought in by Datumanong when the secretary took over the position vacated by Hernando Perez.
Tantuico's stay in the DOJ is co-terminus with Datumanong, who has expressed plans to step down next month since he will be running for congressman in next year's elections.
"Never before did applicants outside the Legal Staff fill up a vacancy in the Office of the Chief State Counsel and of the Assistant Chief State Counsel. It has been the practice since time immemorial that appointments to the vacant positions came from the next in rank," the letter signed by the government lawyers stated.
The complainants, led by another Assistant Chief State Counsel Antonio Abanilla who has been in the DoJ staff for 37 years, said Tantuico's appointment "would hinder the professional growth of trained career personnel in the DOJ legal staff."
Datumanong, however, defended his endorsement of Tantuico adding that he submitted two other names, including State Counsel Claro Flores, to Malacaņang as his recommendees to the position.
Datumanong, who is a close friend of the father-in-law of Tantuico, likewise hinted at problems within the DOJ Legal Staff as his reason for considering an outsider.
"I have not read the letter but all I can say is that an office is a public trust, whoever will be appointed by the President, and should be manned by people who are intellectually competent and known for honesty and diligence for work." Datumanong said.
"The position is not exclusive preserve of those in the DOJ, otherwise there will be no room for hiring more qualified lawyers," Datumanong added.
But a source in the DOJ said, "I don't think Secretary Datumanong knows what the people in his office are doing behind his back. If he does, then that's a bigger problem."
The DOJ Legal Staff's Office is a potential springboard for higher office for lawyers in the judiciary and in the Executive Department.
The office's alumnus include SC Associate Justices Conchita C. Morales and Minerva Gonzaga-Reyes, Court of Appeals Justices Buenaventura S. de la Fuente, Lorna L. de la Fuente and Eriberto U. Rosario, Sandiganbayan Justice Teresita L. De Castro and Justice Usec. Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez.
Aside from issuing legal opinions on government contracts, the office also handles extradition requests and citizenship applications.
(November 27, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
