MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is now restricted from appointing new officials in the government or ordering a revamp in the Cabinet despite the impending resignation of Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), in a resolution, announced that appointing officers to any government office, including government-controlled corporations whether permanent of casual would be illegal.
According to the Commission, it is prohibited to make new appointments in any government post within the election period for the October 25 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.
The prohibition covers hiring of any new employee as well as transferring of posts, creating new positions, suspending any elected official and granting salary increases.
After being linked to Jueteng operations, Puno offered last week to tender his resignation upon Mr. Aquino’s return from the United States - By Mayen Jaymalin
