President Aquino ordered Wednesday (Aug 4) the revocation of the midnight appointments of the previous Arroyo administration.
The President’s directive was contained in Executive Order 2 “recalling, withdrawing, and revoking appointments issued by the previous administration in violation of the constitutional ban on midnight appointments.”
The EO, signed on July 30, stipulates conditions that constitute former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s midnight appointments in “departments, agencies, offices, and instrumentalities including government-owned or controlled corporations.” Arroyo is now a Pampanga congresswoman.
The constitutional ban on appointments took effect 45 days before the May 10 general elections.
The EO also cited Article 7, Section 15 of the Constitution, which stated that “two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, a President or Acting President shall not make appointments, except temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies therein will prejudice public service or endanger public safety.
