VACC calls for immediate probe of “leaked” Palace documents
THE Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) called for an immediate investigation over the continuing “leaks” of sensitive documents from Malacañan, saying such incidents have “serious implications.”
In a 2-page statement, the VACC specifically referred to the release to the public domain by still unknown sources of the draft of Administrative Order (AO) No. 1 that revived the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff (OPCOS) and, the 5-page memorandum to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. of Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile opposing it.
The releases came on Saturday, September 17, 2022, the same day Executive Secretary Atty. Victor Rodriguez tendered his resignation to PBBM and assumed his new post as Presidential Chief of Staff or head of OPCOS.
“The leak of the draft administrative order and the alleged memorandum from the Presidential Legal Counsel (Enrile) should be thoroughly investigated because of the very serious implications involved,” the VACC said.
“These documents are in the nature of privileged communication between the Office of the President and its support offices and units,” the group added.
The authenticity of the press statement was confirmed to Pinoy Exposé by VACC president and spokesperson, Arsenio ‘Boy’ Evangelista.
The VACC said the draft AO immediately became a “staple of malicious discussion even if it was not yet a public document.”
“This development is truly alarming because it demonstrates a serious breach in the security and integrity of the Office of the President, which by all standards, should have the highest national security value,” it said, stressing further that:
“Internal memoranda and draft issuances that are for study and consideration of the President are still outside the purview of public interest.”
The VACC said the latest incidents should prod the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and other concerned agencies to “determine the full nature of these alarming leakages, the purveyors of this dangerous practice and the extent of the security breach on the whole system of the Office of the President.”
It also noted that as privileged communications, the two leaked documents are solely “for the eyes and consideration” of PBBM alone and his most trusted advisers.
“(They) should never have been the subject of commentaries or opinions, whether in the print media, television and radio or social media talk shows.”
“When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a pronouncement or decision, it carries with it the political will and aspirations of 31.6 million Filipinos who voted for him.
“We cannot help but wonder if the leaked documents, and the wildfire commentaries that sprouted all over the mainstream media and various social media platforms, were intended to subvert the will of the people that the President represents,” the group said.
