PBBM abolishes PACC, Cabsec, revives OPS

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. abolished the Presidential Anti-corruption Commission (PACC) and two other offices of Malacañang as part of his effort to streamline Palace operations.

He also created a new office for an adviser for military and police affairs.

On Thursday, Press Secretary Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-angeles confirmed to the media Marcos signed two new executive orders (EO) for the said reorganization.

EO No. 1, which was signed by Marcos on June 30, 2022, phased out PACC and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (Cabsec).

Marcos said the measure aims to “achieve simplicity, economy, and efficiency in bureaucracy without effecting disruptions in internal management and general governance.”

Upon taking effect, the new EO will transfer the jurisdiction of the PACC to “discipline and remove public officials and employees” to the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs.

The Presidential Management Staff (PMS) will absorb the Secretariat of Cabsec.

The affected personnel of both offices will be allowed to avail of the benefits provided under existing laws once the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) releases the fund for it.

The new issuance also created the Office for the Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs, which will be under the Office of the Special Assistant to the President.

EO will take effect immediately after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

OPS

MARCOS also issued EO No. 2, which reorganized and renamed the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and its attached agencies into the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).

Likewise, it abolished the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson.

The EO provides the Press Secretary of not more than 20 personnel and eight undersecretaries and assistant secretaries for the following areas: Operations, Plans and Policies; Administration, Finance and Procurement; Legal Affairs; Media Accreditation and Relations; Digital Media Services; Print Media Services, and related governmentowned and -controlled corporations (GOCC) and attached agencies; Broadcast Media Services, and related GOCCS and attached agencies; and Special Concerns.

The existing divisions and units of the PCOO were distributed to the following areas of concerns of the undersecretaries of the OPS.

The affected staff of the defunct Office of the Presidential Spokesperson was also transferred to the OPS.