SC removes Marina chief from post

The Supreme Court on Monday declared as unconstitutional the appointment of former Transportation Undersecretary Maria Elena Bautista as officer-in-charge of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) in a concurrent capacity. In a 19-page decision, the court granted the petition filed by a certain Dennis Funa, a lawyer, challenging the constitutionality of Bautista’s appointment. Funa said Bautista’s concurrent positions as Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) undersecretary and Marina OIC is in violation of Section 13, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. “Allowing undersecretaries or assistant secretaries to occupy other government posts would open a Pandora’s box as to let them feast on choice government positions," the ruling said. The decision came after Bautista left the DOTC post. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Bautista to the DOTC on October 4, 2006. On September 1, 2008, Bautista was designated as Marina OIC in a concurrent capacity following the resignation of then Marina administrator Vicente Suazo Jr. Funa filed his taxpayer’s suit on October 21, 2008. The SC, however, said that despite the mootness of the petition, there is a need to resolve the legal and constitutional issues it raised since the case can happen again in the future. - KBK, GMANews.TV