The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) expressed apprehension over the possible dismissal of over 4,000 government executives due to a recent Supreme Court’s (SC) division ruling that affirmed the directive of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB).

In an online press conference on Monday, May 10, PAO Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta vowed to appeal the SC’s ruling against dismissed Dangerous Drugs Board (DBB) Deputy Executive Director Maria Belen Angelita V. Matibag.

Acosta said Matibag was removed from DBB in 2011 based on the 2010 memorandum circular of then President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III who ordered the removal of non-Career Executive Service Officials (CESOs) occupying Career Executive Service (CES) positions.

She said the Nov. 4, 2020 SC ruling -- written by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, who had served as chief presidential legal counsel (CPLC) under the Aquino administration and helped craft the memorandum circular -- will become final and executory if not appealed.

“With the foregoing decision, not only Matibag, but thousands of other qualified Career Executive Officer (CEO), Career Executive Service (CES), and Career Service Executive (CSE) incumbents holding third level executive positions on permanent status will stand to lose their security of tenure,” she lamented.

“More than 4,000 po sila na nasa gobyerno (They are more than 4,000 in government),” she cited.

Acosta said the PAO, which represents Matibag, will plead the SC to have the motion for reconsideration elevated to the full court and will seek Caguioa’s inhibition.

She said the SC ruling is unconstitutional since the Constitution mandates that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is the central personnel agency of the government; it violates the right to security of tenure and right to labor; and it violates the right to property.

“The Constitution must ever remain supreme. All must bow to the mandates of this law,” she declared.

She recounted that she and other executives at the PAO almost got removed from service by the Aquino administration’s order had not the CSC ruled in their favor and was later upheld by the Court of Appeals (CA) and the SC.

“Kahawig na kahawig po ito ng kaso ng PAO versus CES Board (Matibag’s case is also similar to the case of PAO versus CES Board),” said Acosta who also noted that Matibag’s eligibilty has been upheld also by the CSC and the CA.