President Marcos' First Executive Order? Abolishing the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. has just issued his first executive order as the 17th president of the country. With EO1, he abolishes the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary. These are part of a organizational reshuffling and streamlining of services.

“Now, therefore, I, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order: The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission is hereby abolished and its jurisdiction, powers and functions shall be transferred to the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs,” the order reads.

For the PACC, all its jurisdiction and functions will now be overseen by the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs.

“The Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs shall promulgate rules of procedure in administrative cases under its jurisdiction; provided that the existing rules of procedure in administrative cases promulgated by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission shall remain in force, unless otherwise repealed or amended," it says.

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The PACC was created by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 as a means of investigating graft and corruption against members of the executive branch. It also came during a time when Duterte had accused former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and the anti-graft office of "selective justice."

Nevertheless, the Office of the Ombudsman has the official mandate to "act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against officers or employees of the Government, or of any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations."

Meanwhile, the powers of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary will now be transferred under the Presidential Management Staff. The office had been renamed by former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in 2012, and had the primary task of providing administrative support to the Cabinet on policy issues and more.

EO1 also establishes the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs. This will be placed under the supervision of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, which is headed by appointee and Marcos ally Davao del Norte Rep. Anton Lagdameo.