President Marcos has issued an executive order (EO) revoking the policy granting Career Executive Service (CES) rank to graduates of Master of National Security Administration (MNSA) program of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), Malacañang announced on Sunday.
EO no. 63, which Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed on July 2, aims to synchronize the standards and procedures for conferring the CES rank.
According to the EO, the Constitution provides that appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness to be determined by competitive examination.
Prior to the EO’s issuance, graduates of the MNSA program of NDCP, who are appointed to CES positions are granted CES rank.
In February this year, the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) recommended revoking the policy of granting CES rank to graduates of the MNSA program to synchronize the standards and procedures in conferring CES rank.
The EO supported CESB’s recommendation. “The Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all Executive departments, bureaus and offices, and the mandate to ensure the faithful execution of laws,” the order read.
The EO also mentioned that the entrance to the CES positions shall be prescribed by the CESB.
“The CESB is mandated to promulgate rules, standards and procedures on the selection, classification, compensation and career development of members of the CES,” it added.
