Just a few hours after President Benigno Simeon Aquino III assumed his post as the new Chief Executive, his administration immediately issued Memorandum Circular No. 1 directing all non-career executive service officers (CESO) to vacate their posts and for contractual workers to have their contracts extended until July 31.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in a press conference Wednesday, said Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa issued Memorandum Circular No. 1 “Declaring all non-career exec service positions vacant as of June 30, 2010 and extending the services of contractual employees whose contract expire on June 30, 2010.”
      
“In order to prevent the unnecessary destruction of government operations, and the impairment of all official processes as well as the delivery of services to the people, all positions occupied by non-CESO and Presidential appointees are hereby declared vacant as of noon of June 30,” Lacierda said.
      
He added that posts that will be vacated shall be headed by the “most senior career executive service officer” as the officer-in-charge (OIC) until July 31 or until a new appointment on the vacated post has been made.
      
Contractual employees such as the Palace chefs were directed for extension until July 31 “unless otherwise terminated or renewed by hiring agencies.”
      
The “complete turnover” of books, equipment and other government paraphernalia was also directed by Malacañang on those who will be vacating their posts.

Lacierda said Memorandum Circular No. 1 “shall take effect immediately.”

The Presidential spokesman however said they have yet to decide on the fate of midnight appointees, adding that there are about 4,000 vacant positions to be filled up in government.

It will be recalled that before they stepped down from office, outgoing President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro had expressed optimism that contractual employees as well as career executive service officers who have performed well in the past administration be retained in their position by the new administration.