LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III directed anew the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to strictly observe the status quo in the performance of their duties and responsibilities following a recent order of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Abdullah D. Mama-o reassigning and designating at least 16 POEA officials to new posts.
Bello said that the DMW Secretary cannot order the reassignment of any officials and employees of the POEA pending the full constitution of the new department.
Furthermore, the labor chief said the issuance of the DMW Administrative Order (AO) runs counter to the letters of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and the Department of Justice Opinion issued by Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
“It [DMW AO] also unduly hampers the discharge and administration of functions, duties, and responsibilities of the POEA Administrator,” Bello said.
