Gov’t reorganization starts: anti-corruption commission, cabinet secretary post abolished; PCOO out, OPS in

MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Orders (EO) 1 and 2, abolishing or reorganizing several offices under the executive branch, including the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), as part of streamlining the government.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) was also renamed the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS). Also abolished was the Cabinet Secretary post.

The President also issued Executive Order No. 2 which merges the Freedom of Information (FOI) Program Management Office, the Good Governance Office and the Bureau of Communications Services into the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), which is now under the direct supervision of the Office of the President.

Under the EO, government-owned channels Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) and the People’s Television Network (PTV), as well as the National Printing Offices, the News and Information Bureau, the APO Production Unit, and the Bureau of Broadcast Services are considered as attached agencies of the OPS.

Marcos’ Executive Order also places the Radio Television Malacañang – which records and broadcasts all presidential events – under the “direct supervision and control of the Presidential Management Staff” or PMS.

EO 1 abolished the PACC and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary to achieve “simplicity, economy, and efficiency” in the bureaucracy.

Under the EO, the jurisdiction, powers, and functions of the PACC will be transferred to the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs.

The Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs is directed to promulgate rules of procedure in administrative cases under its jurisdiction, provided that the existing rules of procedure in administrative cases promulgated by the PACC shall remain in force unless otherwise repealed or amended.

The need to fine-tune the use of government resources is the sole reason for the Palace’s decision to deactivate the PACC, said Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, adding the President gave all of Cabinet secretaries a free hand in reorganizing their agencies and streamlining operations to promote a more efficient allocation of scarce government resources.

“I think the deactivation of the PACC was along that line, but surely it was not because the PACC was ineffective,” Guevarra said.

He said that “as former Justice secretary, I had a meaningful collaboration with the PACC in the overall campaign against corruption in government.”

Based on Executive Order (EO) 1 signed on June 30, the day of his inauguration, Marcos abolished the PACC and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary to achieve “simplicity, economy, and efficiency” in the bureaucracy.

Marcos said the administration endeavors to achieve “a comprehensive and meaningful recovery through a just allocation of resources and a simplified internal management and governance of the Office of the President and its immediate offices and common staff support system.”

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles likewise said at a Palace press briefing that the PACC has been abolished because it is “not in line with streamlining.”

“First of all, its nature is investigative, which can also be conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman. So, usually, what they do is they gather evidence on presidential appointees and file the case with the Ombudsman,” she said.

According to EO 1, “the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs shall promulgate rules of procedure in administrative cases under its jurisdiction; provided that the existing rules of procedure in administrative cases promulgated by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission shall remain in force unless otherwise repealed or amended.”

The winding-up of the operations and disposition of the functions, positions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the PACC will be administered by the Executive Secretary.