Facts:

• Sultan Maminta M. Radia was appointed as the City Engineer of Marawi City on May 1, 1985.
• Hadji Abbas M. Basman became the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Office of the City Mayor on April 1, 1986.
• Basman issued a memorandum on April 2, 1986, directing all office heads to transfer operations to the New City Hall.
• On April 4, 1986, Basman accused Radia of intentionally destroying city engineering equipment and warned of consequences for non-compliance.
• Radia was terminated on April 30, 1986, for alleged serious insubordination and abandonment of office.
• Basman appointed Engineer Lacsasa H. Pangadapun as the new OIC of the Office of the City Engineer on the same day.
• Radia's appeal to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) was initially successful but was later reversed after Basman's motion for reconsideration.
• The CSC's Review Committee dismissed Radia's appeal on October 10, 1986.
• Radia appealed to the Office of the President, which upheld the Review Committee's decision on June 11, 1987.
• Radia subsequently filed a Petition for Certiorari to nullify his termination and seek back salary.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court dismissed the Petition for Certiorari for lack of merit.
• The Court affirmed the legality of Radia's termination and the authority of the Review Committee under Executive Order No. 17.
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Ratio:

• The Court determined that Radia's termination was lawful under Article III (2) of the Provisional Constitution, which permits the removal of appointive officials without cause upon the appointment of successors.
• Basman, as OIC, had the authority to appoint Pangadapun, justifying Radia's termination.
• The Review Committee found that Radia's non-compliance with directives ...continue reading