Palace accepts quit offer of not-yet-resigned official

Harold Clavite– (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte had accepted the resignation of the chief of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), though the letter had not yet been submitted.

Also on Monday, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar designated Abner Caga as officer in charge of the PIA.

According to a statement by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, PIA Director General Harold Clavite sent the Palace a letter on July 17 in which he “manifested his intention to submit his irrevocable resignation to the President, citing personal reasons.”

“He also said that he already gave three years to the country and it’s time for him to go back to his family. This was elevated to the President and thereafter accepted,” Medialdea said.

‘Too harsh’

But Clavite, posting on Facebook on Monday, said he had not yet submitted his resignation to the President and only informed Medialdea of his plan to quit.

“I said in my letter to ES Medialdea that I ‘intend to submit my irrevocable resignation’ because we both agreed in our meeting on July 15 that I write down first all information I had on the PCOO-PIA problem,” Clavite said, referring also to the mother agency of the PIA, the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which Andanar heads.

Clavite also said, “He [Medialdea] specifically asked me not to resign after hearing my side. I merely reiterated in the letter our conversation and I said my resignation will be sent to the President. My July 17 letter was addressed to ES, not the President.”

“If they used that statement to make such decision, then I accept that. I just think it’s not fair that after hearing my side and asking me to write down all the details, they would do such without even talking to me,” Clavite said further in his post.

“The letter asking me to leave on the same day was too harsh not only for me but for the organization which was deprived of proper transition and handover.”

Clavite also accused the PCOO of “departmental interference on daily operations in PIA, which they’re not supposed to be doing according to the Administrative Code of 1987,” calling it further an “abusive act.”

Last June, Clavite asked the PCOO to investigate allegations of corruption by an anonymous letter-sender. He claimed that a certain presidential appointee was the one behind the demolition job against him.

Medialdea, in his statement, “recognized the service Mr. Clavite has rendered and [wished] him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Replacement

Andanar, in a department order dated Sept. 2, named Caga, regional director of PIA’s office in Caraga, as OIC of the PIA central office.

“In the exigency of the service and in view of the separation from public office of Harold E. Clavite, Director Abner M. Caga, regional director of PIA Regional Office XIII, is hereby designated as the OIC of the PIA central office, effective 02 September 2019,” the order said.

Andanar said the OIC “shall be guided by Department Order No. 006, s. of 2019, which provides that all personnel actions within the PIA shall require the final approval of the PCOO Secretary.”