Palace official defends Arroyo decision to appoint manicurist to housing body

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cannot be accused of "debasing standards of government performance," a Palace official said. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar made this assertion on Thursday, days after it was reported that she appointed a personal beautician and a gardener to two government posts. Earlier, Anita Carpon, Arroyo’s manicurist, was appointed to the board of the Pag-IBIG Housing Fund, an agency that helps Filipinos own their homes. The President also appointed Armando Macapagal, her gardener, as deputy of the Luneta Park Administration. Over half of the people in President Arroyo’s office and a number from her cabinet are government career executives or CESO (Career Executive Service Officers). At the same time, Olivar said that Carpon remains capable of fulfilling her duties. The President aims to make sure that poor employees have due representation on the housing board. “[In] the case of Carpon, poor employees are represented by one of their own in Pag-IBIG, because they have to run to [them] for housing needs," he said in a press briefing. “One seat is reserved in the board for ordinary employees." Carpon is still considered a government employee, and that her “lowly" occupation should not be a ground for questioning her competence, Olivar said. He added that it would be reasonable to ask for more background information from her. - Jasmine Shewakrmani, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV