STATE WORKERS HAIL CA REJECTION OF SALUDO’S APPOINTMENT

Submitted by courage_phil on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 07:00.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The
Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees
(COURAGE), the national center of government employees, today lauded the
Commission on Appointment’s decision rejecting the appointment of Ricardo Saludo
as the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

 

“It was the government employees who
registered their vehement opposition to Saludo’s appointment from the very
start. He is unfit to head the CSC not only because he is unqualified but also
he is known to be one of the most rabid puppets of Pres. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo,” said COURAGE National President.

 

COURAGE through its president filed a
sworn opposition to the CA against Saludo’s appointment.

 

The militant group believed that the
CSC, as the state’s central personnel department that oversees the welfare and
interests of the more than 1.4 government employees, must be free from the
dictates of Malacañang. “From the onset, we expected Saludo to become Arroyo’s
mouthpiece and we were right. During his stint as interim CSC Chair, he
unlawfully convened the National Workers Congress. This act is a clear
manifestation of management intervention in the employees’ right to
self-organization which is enshrined in the Philippine Constitution. What is worse
is that he attempted to use this convention as a venue to oblige the attendees
to sign a manifesto supporting a lopsided and pseudo-salary hike,” added Gaite.

 

The leader also cited Saludo’s
inaction over the long list of ineligible appointees of the Arroyo
administration and his troubling silence on the questionable SALNs of Mrs.
Arroyo and son, Mikey, as glaring testaments to his being Arroyo’s lackey in
further perpetuating graft and corruption inside the bureaucracy.

 

Meanwhile, COURAGE urged all public
servants to remain vigilant on Malacañang’s odious practice of appointing loyal
but unqualified allies to strategic posts in the government. “While we claimed
the CA’s rejection as the state workers’ tactical gain, we can never
underestimate Arroyo’s utter disregard for merit and fitness system supposedly
working in the civil service,” stated Gaite.

 

COURAGE reiterated that the next CSC
head must be someone who is incorruptible and independent. “We are warning Mrs.
Arroyo not to reward the position to just another staunch supporter. The
government employees are already demoralized and outraged with patronage
politics primarily promoted by Mrs. Arroyo herself. Should she appoint another
‘Saludo’ to the CSC, we will not hesitate to go all-out against it,” ended
Gaite. #