Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he will ask Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea if Malacañang can once again publicize the appointment papers of government officials after it was learned that the Palace only releases a copy to the appointee.
Roque said it was Medialdea who said that Malacañang only needs to confirm the appointment of government officials.
"Hindi ko po alam (I don't know). I’ll ask the Executive Secretary," he said when asked if Malacañang can start releasing copies of presidential appointees again.
"Apparently it’s the Executive Secretary that said na it’s enough we confirm appointments, we don’t have to post (the) appointment papers," he added.
Last week, newly appointed PhilHealth president Dante Gierran hinted that he could not start the revamp in the agency because he is yet to received his appointment paper. According to Roque, he "believes" that Gierran has an appointment paper and suggested that maybe it has not reached him yet.
He added that it is now up to the appointee if they want to publicize their appointment or not. However, he insisted that there is still transparency in the new policy.
"Nandiyan pa rin po ang transparency dahil nga inaanunsyo naman namin kung sino ang na-appoint (The transparency is still there because we are the ones announcing who are the people being appointed)," Roque said.
"Pero po kasi 'yung (But the (appointment paper itself is addressed to the appointee. So it's up to the appointee kung gusto niya ilabas 'yan (if he wants to publicize it or not)," he added.
Malacañang used to release to the public copies of appointment papers. However, Roque said the policy changed after he left his post in Malacañang in 2018 to run for Senate.
The Palace shifted to releasing just a list of presidential appointees but since March this year, no appointment paper or list of appointees was voluntarily released to the public.