President Surangel Whipps Jr. terminated Ismael Aguon as the Director of the Bureau of Public Safety on March 10, 2023, without citing any reasons for termination.
Aguon was the Director of the Narcotics Enforcement Agency before he was appointed and sworn in as Director of the Bureau of Public Safety on March 18, 2021. Almost two years to the day he was appointed, President Whipps then removed him.
According to a source with knowledge of the matter, President Whipps was not pleased with the performance of Director Aguon, so he was terminated.
The law, 34 PNC Section 5021, makes the position of the Director of the Bureau of Public Safety an appointed position by the President. …” a Director of Bureau of Public Safety who shall be responsible to the President. The Director shall be appointed by the President and shall serve at the pleasure of the President, but not longer than three years unless reappointed.”
The law also says the President can appoint an acting director in case of death, incapacity, prolonged absence of Director, or appointment of a new director.
Aquon, in his former position as Director of NEA, was under the government Civil Service System but now, as an appointee, once terminated, is no longer employed by the government.