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Aug 20, 2010
MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the implementation of Executive Order No. 2 firing “midnight appointees” of former President Arroyo and EO No. 3 that revokes the grant of Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) rank to government lawyers. This as the High Court did not issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the two Executive Orders.
President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 2, revoking the “midnight” appointments made during the past administration while Executive Order No. 3 revokes the grant of Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) ranks to government lawyers.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo de Castro Jr. and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Deputy Director Eddie Tamondong have earlier filed separate petitions questioning the “constitutionality” of Executive Order Nos. 2 and 3 and sought a TRO against the implementation of both Executive Orders.
Likewise, the SC in an en banc session on Tuesday said that the TRO issued by Chief Justice Renato Corona against the imposition of value-added tax (VAT) and increase in toll fees stays. Meanwhile, the SC has set for raffle Executive Order No. 1 creating the Truth Commission to be headed by former SC Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. The Truth Commission was mandated to investigate into and put “closure” on alleged anomalies prevalent during the past administration such as the botched US$ 329-million NBN-ZTE contract, the P728-million fertilizer fund scam and the controversial “Hello Garci” tape. Opposition lawmakers have earlier filed a petition before the SC questioning the “legality” of the creation of the Truth Commission.