THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) said late last week that the appointments of employees in the City Hall are legal.

“The appointments processed and attested by CSC, specifically the city government of Dagupan are in consonance with existing Civil Service Rules and COMELEC resolution no. 7707”, provincial CSC head John Rivera said in response to a letter of Councilor Teofilo Guadiz III, inquiring on the matter.

Commission on Elections Resolution No. 7707 entitled “Calendar of Activities and Period of Prohibited Acts” states among others that the appointment of new employees creation or filling up of new positions and promotion or giving of salary, increases remuneration or privilege are prohibited from March 30 to May 14, 2007.

As to Guadiz’s question if the vacant positions filled up by the city government complied with the rule about due publication, the CSC provided the office of Coun. Guadiz a copy of the CSC Bulletin of Vacant Positions in the city government dated January 26, 2007.

“As far as we are concerned, issuance of an appointment lies in the discretion of the appointing authority the City Mayor,” Rivera said.

“For as long as the appointee meets the minimum requirement set by the Civil Service Qualification Standards Manual and it was issued in accordance with the rules on appointment, the same is in order,” he added.

Guadiz earlier sent a letter to the CSC charging that these appointments were “midnight appointments, in violation of civil service rules. (Sunshine D. Robles)