By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Reporter

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday, Aug. 21, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Eduardo M. Año remains his top pick for the next Local Government secretary despite a law barring the appointment of newly-retired military or police officials to the post.

Mr. Duterte announced last May that Mr. Año would be appointed secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) when the AFP chief reaches his mandatory retirement age of 56, replacing sacked Ismael D. Sueno.

But under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6975, or the DILG Act of 1990, no retired or resigned military officer or police official may be appointed as DILG secretary within one year from the date of his retirement or resignation.

In a press conference in Malacañang, Mr. Duterte, noting the “prohibition” in placing Mr. Año to the post, said the military chief will be under him until the ban on appointing retired military officials lapses.

Mr. Año must also finish his “mission” of ending the Marawi siege before he can take the helm at DILG, Mr. Duterte said.

“I would make him a senior aide of the Office of the President or whatever. Or undersecretary if that is legally feasible. Ilagay ko lang siya undersecretary but he performs as officer-in-charge,” the President said of Mr. Año.

Malacañang earlier said the chief executive had an “alternative solution” regarding Mr. Año’s appointment.

Last April, Mr. Duterte fired Mr. Sueno after the Office of the President received a confidential letter enumerating graft allegations against the dismissed official. But Mr. Sueno denied the corruption complaints.

Shortly after Mr. Sueno’s dismissal, Undersecretary Catalino S. Cuy was appointed DILG officer-in-charge in a holdover capacity.

Agencies under the DILG include the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

‘SHE WAS REALLY BRIGHT’
Still on the topic of presidential appointees, Mr. Duterte also lamented the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) decision to reject the ad-interim appointment of Judy M. Taguiwalo as Social Welfare secretary after more than a year in office.

“They (CA) voted secretly. I do not know who voted for and who was against Taguiwalo. And that is the job of Congress as part of the checks and balances in this government,” Mr. Duterte said.

“Checks and balance ‘yan eh. So wala tayong magawa kung i-reject (So there’s nothing we can do if she’s rejected). I do not want to attribute or impute something, motive. It’s a discretion and they voted secret,” he added.

Ms. Taguiwalo’s appointment had been bypassed five times.

It was not immediately clear why the Left-leaning Cabinet official was rejected, but there were speculations that the collapse of peace talks between the state and communist rebels created an air of uncertainty over her position.

Asked if he already has a replacement for the “bright” Ms. Taguiwalo, Mr. Duterte, apparently in jest, said he offered the position to ABS-CBN reporter Doris Bigornia but she rejected it.

“All that I ask of her is just to work and avoid corruption, period. And enjoy the duty of serving your countrymen,” he said of Ms. Bigornia.

Ms. Taguiwalo is the third appointee of Mr. Duterte rejected by the legislative body.

Mr. Duterte has insisted he does not try to influence the commission, despite having the backing of a legislative super majority.

Last week, Social Welfare Undersecretary Emmanuel A. Leyco was designated as the department’s officer-in-charge.

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