Some 'new hires' in Ombudsman already in high salary grade — Remulla
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 7:40 p.m.) — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has raised concerns over the staffing decisions of the previous administration, noting that some recent hires were given high-level salary grades despite having minimal experience.
Remulla specifically pointed to individuals, some of them newly minted lawyers, who secured positions with a salary grade of 26 or 27, which he classified as "director-level" posts.
Such salary grades cover the following ranges, according to National Budget Circular 59:
- Salary Grade 25- P111,727 to P124,591 monthly
- Salary Grade 26- P126,252 to P140,788 monthly
- Salary Grade 27- P142,663 to P158,723 monthly
"Sometimes it's bad for morale when people just starting out get in with a salary grade of 26 or 27. That's already director-level," Remulla said in an ANC interview.
"That's just a new lawyer. That's not right," he added.
Remulla also stressed that this practice affects the morale of long-serving and more qualified personnel within the office.
"It's bad for morale when you bring in people who are less qualified than those who are already in the service," he explained.
Remulla also expressed the need to personally form and vet his team, noting the significant number of personnel hired in July and the preceding months, just before the retirement of the former ombudsman.
"When I form my team, I want to know them. I want to know the new recruits," he said.
When directly asked if he would categorize the appointments made by former Ombudsman Samuel Martires as "midnight appointees," Remulla indicated that he would prefer to see cooperation first.
"Well, we will have to resort to the doctrine of midnight appointments if some of them resist. I just want full cooperation with them," he said.
On October 20, Remulla said that he asked 204 appointees in his office to submit their courtesy resignations and reapply for their positions.
Ninety-nine of these appointees, according to Remulla, hold salary grade 25 and above.
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