Malacañang defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following criticism from Senator Imee Marcos over the appointment of acting secretaries in several government departments.
In an earlier statement, the senator described the President’s appointment of acting secretaries as a possible “modus operandi” to avoid submitting officials to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation.
Responding to the remarks, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the senator’s statement was too harsh and appeared to single out the President despite other issues faced by public officials.
Castro emphasized that the President has no intention of belittling or insulting the Commission on Appointments through the appointment of acting secretaries. She said the President was only exercising his constitutional prerogative to appoint officials, whether on a temporary or permanent basis.
According to Castro, acting secretaries may legally remain in office for up to one year. She noted that none of the recently appointed acting secretaries have reached the one-year limit.
The Palace also stated earlier that it is finalizing the list of officials who will be endorsed to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation.
The issue comes after President Marcos recently replaced the secretaries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Tourism. Both departments are currently being led by officers-in-charge following the leadership changes.
Malacañang maintained that the appointments were within the President’s legal authority and part of normal administrative procedures.
