Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said that 99 out of 204 new hires occupying high positions in the anti-graft body are ‘questionable.’
Remulla said that the 99 new employees were found to have a salary grade level of 25 and above. A government employee with a salary grade level of 25 earns around P111,000 monthly.
‘Yung 204 persons, we identified 99 of salary grade 25 and above, which is very high position in government. And for them to be hired at the last minute and to occupy pivotal positions, highest-paid positions paid with a premium at the last minute I think is questionable,’ Remulla said in a press briefing.
Remulla noted that they occupy the positions of Special Prosecutor, Assistant Ombudsman, Director IV, and Graft Investigator.
He also shared that many of the new hires were fresh lawyers but were already granted high salary grade levels.
‘They have a say in the functions of the office, from evaluation to preliminary investigation to prosecution of people,’ Remulla added.
He also said that a memorandum order has been issued for them to tender their courtesy resignations. However, he clarified that the resignations are not yet accepted.
Last Monday, Remulla said that a total of 204 new hires, suspected of being ‘midnight appointees’ in the Office of the Ombudsman will be asked to reapply before the anti-graft body.
He noted that their applications will be reevaluated as they are still under the six-month probationary period.
A midnight appointee refers to an appointment to a political office that was made in the eleventh hour of the term of office of the person vested with the power to issue such an appointment. /gsg