Sen. Marcos grills Dizon on lapse of his 1-year appointment in acting capacity

MANILA, Philippines — Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon’s acting capacity was questioned during his department’s budget hearing at the Senate on Friday.

This refers to the expiration of his one-year term limit and absence of a reappointment from the president.

Sen. Imee Marcos grilled Dizon, asking about the status of his appointment, citing the Administrative Code, which states that temporary designations in an acting capacity must not exceed one year.

Article continues after this advertisement

“You were appointed as acting secretary of Public Works on September 1, 2025. Is that correct?” Marcos recalled, to which Dizon answered in the affirmative.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

“In Pimentel versus Ermita, G.R. 164970, the Supreme Court held this one-year limit was a safeguard to prevent the use of acting appointments as a way to circumvent confirmation by the Commission on Appointments,” the senator read.

“And we have a meeting today with the Commission on Appointments. Maybe you already have an appointment?” Marcos inquired.

Dizon replied that his appointment is continuing until the second session of Congress is in recess.

READ: Dizon: Many of the new fund changes mostly for effective flood control

Article continues after this advertisement

But Marcos insisted: “I’m sorry, but the administrative code is very clear that it’s only one year.”

“And if you were appointed in an acting capacity September 1, 2025, it has lapsed in 2026,” the senator noted.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Today is what, 25 September 2026? You’re overdue by a few days. 24 days,” she computed.

“What is the present status, therefore, of your appointment?” Marcos asked once more.

The public works secretary admitted that he is unable to answer, saying he would have to ask President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who appointed him.

“Madame Senator, unfortunately, I am not the appointing authority. If you don’t mind, I will confer with the Office of the President and ask,” Dizon began to explain.

But before he could finish, Marcos asked the legal basis of Dizon’s appearance during the budget hearing for the Department of Public Works (DPWH), considering his appointment had lapsed a few weeks ago.

“What is your legal basis, if any, for still heading the DPWH? If your appointment has lapsed, what’s the legal basis today for appearing here…?” she wanted to know.

“You’re saying that appointing is clearly above your pay grade, and you need to ask the appointing authority. But we also are required to ask you why you’re here,” Marcos persisted.

Dizon responded: “Madame Senator, I’m here because, I guess, I have not yet been fired. If you ask me, I wish that this will continue.”

Marcos also asked if Dizon had been reappointed without anyone’s knowledge, saying that his standing is in “clear violation” of the Administrative Code’s one year limit.

Dizon confirmed that he had not received any reappointment offers, repeating again that he would have to talk to the president on the matter.

READ: DPWH asks P7.3B in lump sum appropriations

The senator continued her battery of questions, emphasizing again her earlier explanation.

“In your case, since your appointment was only acting in the first place, did you even have a fixed term? None, right? Because it’s acting. So it’s okay, it’s overacting,” Marcos told Dizon.

“The one-year period under the Admin Code was merely the maximum. It’s not the term of office for an acting officer. It’s acting. It’s a holdover,” she said.

Dizon replied again: “Madame Chair, I will have to again consult with the Office of the President, because at the end of the day, they are the appointing authority on this.”

“My lawyers seem to… Well, he said, it’s possible,” he said, when Marcos asked for legal answers once more.

Dizon said he would be relieved if he were no longer the DPWH secretary, if the senator’s assertion is true.

“But with permission to speak, frankly, Ma’am, this is music to my ears because I don’t even like being here anymore,” Dizon told Marcos.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

“I will reply immediately, but if you would grant me the leeway to first ask the appointing authority, because we cannot reply on our own because I didn’t put myself here,” the secretary repeated. /apl