Makati City department heads can’t be replaced

Makati City Hall —Photo by Ryan Leagogo/ INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza clarified on Monday that outgoing Senator and Mayor-elect Nancy Binay need not ask for his courtesy resignation, as his term will end on June 30.

But he reminded Binay that all department heads at City Hall are permanent employees under the Civil Service Code, unlike Cabinet members appointed by the President.

“They are career officials,” Certeza said in a statement. “And unlike the President, a mayor has no power to call for the resignation of department heads.”

READ: Just like Marcos, Nancy Binay will also order courtesy resignations in Makati

Binay, who was earlier proclaimed as the winner in Makati’s mayoral race, had said she would ask for the courtesy resignations of all department heads as she wanted to work with those whom she could trust.

According to Certeza, the incumbent officials at city hall “rose from the ranks based on merit, professionalism and performance.” “Their permanent appointments were also ratified by the Sangguniang Panglungsod as required by the city charter,” he added. —Dempsey Reyes