Palace stops releasing papers of Duterte’s new appointees

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang will no longer release documents pertaining to new appointments of President Rodrigo Duterte and will just leave it up to presidential appointees if they want their new posts publicized.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday that they will instead only confirm the appointments, citing an order from the Office of the Executive Secretary.

This new arrangement was disclosed after newly appointed PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran said during the Laging Handa briefing that he has yet to receive his appointment papers.

“As to the appointment of Gierran, well, dati-rati po we post it, pero ngayon ang policy po namin sa OPS [Office of the Presidential Spokesperson], it’s up to the appointed official to post it if they want,” Roque said during the online briefing.

(As to the appointment of Gierran, we post it before but the policy now in the OPS is that it’s up to the appointed official to post it if they want.)

“Well, mayroon pa rin pong transparency kasi kino-confirm namin iyong mga appointments,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(There’s still transparency because we confirm the appointments.)

Gierran earlier admitted he could not start reshuffling officials of PhilHealth since he still does not have a copy of his appointment papers.

But Roque said he “believes” Gierran already received it unless there was a “time lag.”

Roque was then asked by a reporter if the usual arrangement where the Palace releases the papers of presidential appointees can be retained.

“Hindi ko po alam. I’ll ask the Executive Secretary because apparently it’s the Executive Secretary that said na it’s enough we confirm appointments, we don’t have to post appointment papers,” he replied.

KGA