Open Letter to GMA's Midnight Appointees

Open Letter to GMA’s Midnight Appointees

By Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO)+

The start of a new Presidency with a clear and legitimate mandate from our people is an opportunity to re-build and re-affirm our unity as a democracy. The need for unity is even more compelling now as our society emerges from 9 years of politics damaged by questions of the legitimacy of the outgoing Arroyo Administration. The midnight appointees of GMA are left-over seeds for our continued discord, sown by an exiting president who apparently does not care for our people’s united effort to move forward with their new leader.

Yet, these midnight appointees do not have to accept these very questionable appointments that would pressure the new administration to uproot them. We note with admiration the fine example of GMA manicurist Anita Carpon who was reported to have declined her midnight appointment to the Board of the Pag-IBIG Fund. The delicadeza evident in the restraint of a simple manicurist is a modest but much appreciated contribution to our people’s unity behind the new administration.

We therefore appeal to all midnight appointees of GMA to rise to the level of Ms. Carpon by voluntarily resigning from the posts to which they were appointed starting March this year, without prejudice to the new President re-appointing those among them who are qualified. Doing so shall demonstrate their good-faith intention to serve our people honourably and well. Refusing to do so would put into question their patriotism and ability to function in their posts with any degree of effectiveness.

We ask all midnight appointees to help the Filipino people and the incoming administration focus on the many grave problems of the nation. Please relieve the Aquino government of the added burden of having to seek ways to enforce the constitutional mandate against your midnight appointments. We ask those who remain honourable among these midnight appointees to seriously consider becoming part of the solution by resigning, rather than remaining part of the problem by ignoring this appeal.


Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO)
Management Association of the Philippines (MAP)
Makati Business Club (MBC)
US Pinoys for Good Governance

References:

Karina Constantino David
Former Chair, Civil Service Commission

Isagani Cruz
Former Undersecretary, Department of Education

Angelito Banayo
Former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs

Nixon Kua
Former General Manager, Philippine Tourism Authority