Practice question
An agency dismisses a covered career official without lawful cause or required process. It defends the action solely by saying 'public office is not private property.' The official invokes tenure and due-process protections but claims no inheritable ownership. Which analysis follows Leones?
- The statement about nonownership eliminates every tenure safeguard.
- Every official owns the office as transferable property.
- The official must buy the office to gain protection.
- The agency may dispense with governing law whenever it recites public trust.
- Absence of proprietary ownership does not authorize arbitrary removal contrary to tenure and due-process protections.
Legal references
- Leones v. Corpuz, G.R. No. 204106, November 17, 2021, main decision: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2021/nov2021/gr_204106_2021.html
- 1987 Constitution, Article IX-B Section 2(3): https://lawphil.net/consti/cons1987.html
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