‘Remove ban on appointment of ex-PNP, AFP exec to DILG’

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III has filed a bill seeking the removal of the one-year ban on the appointment of retired military or police officials as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In filing Senate Bill 1727, Pimentel seeks to amend Republic Act 6975 or the DILG Act of 1990, which states that “no retired or resigned military or police official may be appointed as DILG chief within one year from the date of the retirement.”

Pimentel said the President’s power to appoint heads of the executive department should not be restricted.

“The ban on appointing retired military or police officials to the DILG post is an infringement on the president’s power to appoint his alter ego,” the senator said.

“This ban serves no purpose other than to delay the appointment of competent individuals, as the Commission on Appointments checks on the capability of the appointee,” Pimentel added.

President Duterte appointed retired Armed Forces chief Eduardo Año as acting DILG secretary last January.

Because of the one-year ban, Año would serve as DILG officer-in-charge until Oct. 27 this year.