Budget exec linked in ‘pork’ scam can’t be automatically suspended—Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Thursday clarified that officials like Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos cannot easily be suspended because of Civil Service Commission rules.

“Usec. Mario Relampagos is a career executive service officer (CESO) who is, by law, afforded security of tenure based on Civil Service Commission rules, specifically Revised Rules,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a briefing.

“He is entitled to due process before he may be suspended from office,” he explained, adding that the same principle applied to other officials under the CSC.

Coloma said due process was a right of public servants to determine the basis of any suspension.

Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Relampagos and his staff are facing graft charges before the Sandiganbayan as co-accused of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. Relampagos was accused of being the link of Janet Lim-Napoles to the Department of Budget and Management.

In Relampagos’ recent petition asking for a deferment of his arraignment, he said he only signed five of the 12 Special Allotment Release Orders (Saro) cited to indict him and his staff for graft.

In the past week, Revilla, Estrada and other players in the pork barrel scam have surrendered.

On Thursday, Napoles said she was not guilty while Revilla refused to enter a plea during their arraignment at the Sandiganbayan.

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