Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) clarified issues about its officer-in-charge Tereso Panga and said he is ready to step down if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appoints a new director general.
This came after Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in December that he will conduct an inquiry on complaints made by some PEZA employees regarding violations of civil service rules. Panga allegedly fired a number of contractual workers, placed some permanent workers on floating status, and demoted long-time agency employees.
According to PEZA’s statement released Tuesday, administrative matters such as designation, transfers, and renewal of employment contracts were implemented properly under the supervision of a technical working group.
“The OIC always exercises utmost honesty and integrity in discharging the duties and functions as Head of PEZA, assisted by the PEZA MANCOM (Management Committee) consisting of PEZA senior officials,” the agency added.
PEZA also said all terminated employees underwent due process after having filed their respective clearances with the agency and received their final separation pay.
On the issue of Panga’s order to padlock the Office of the Director General, raised by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel during Pascual’s confirmation hearing at the Commission on Appointments, PEZA said “there is no such incident.”
“The door was merely locked to secure the valuables inside the office,” the agency explained. “As of today, the said office is still closed and no official is using it.”
PEZA also clarified that there was “no leadership row” despite former Director-General Charito Plaza previously questioning the position given to Panga.
Plaza was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in September 2016. The change in administration caused some agency heads to retain their posts temporarily while some positions held by presidential appointees were declared vacant. Last August, Plaza asked for clarification on her status.
“There is no leadership row in PEZA but rather an unjustified refusal of a former appointive official to step down from office despite holding a presidential appointee position co-terminous with the appointing authority, as affirmed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in its letter to the former DG dated 04 August 2022 and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Opinion No. 17 dated 25 August 2022,” the statement read.
The DTI said the DOJ affirmed the assumption of Panga as PEZA OIC and confirmed that he will continue his duties until the end of 2022 or if a replacement is appointed.
On other complaints against Panga filed with the Ombudsman, PEZA said these are “baseless, malicious and unfounded.”
