CSC exec: No need for PAO chief to take CES exam

A Civil Service commissioner on Friday said that Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta and her deputies need not take the career executive service (CES) examination to keep their posts. Commissioner Cesar Buenaflor of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) told GMANews.TV that under Republic Act 9406 or the law establishing the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), the chief public attorney only needs law practice to qualify for the position. “The law itself prescribes that the qualifications of the chief public attorney are like those of the chief state prosecutor, who only needs to the practice of law to qualify for the position," Buenaflor said in a phone interview on Friday. Section 16 of RA 9406 states that “the chief public attorney shall have the same qualifications… as those of the chief state prosecutor," who only needs to be a member of the Philippine Bar to qualify for the post. Buenaflor made this statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a legal opinion stating that Acosta and her deputies are ineligible for their posts. The opinion, issued by Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras, said the top officials of PAO need to take the Career Executive Service Office (CESO) examinations to qualify for their posts. The document, however, is not yet final and has yet to be signed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Buenaflor described the DOJ’s legal opinion as “erroneous," adding that the CESO examination is “open to all but not necessary to all appointed positions in government." “Doon nagkamali ‘yung iba eh [That’s where others make the mistake]. Hindi nila alam na may [They don’t know that there’s] special legislation applicable to the PAO stating the qualifications of its top officials," he said. He added that Acosta, who personally sought his opinion on the issue on Friday afternoon, has a “strong case" for her eligibility, because it is “protected by the law and jurisprudence."—MRT/JV, GMANews.TV