MALACAÑANG said on Tuesday that it would be “baseless and premature” to say that the impending appointment of former senator Manuel Roxas II as presidential chief of staff would cause “pandemonium” in the Executive branch since there is no administrative order (AO) yet defining his functions.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte said in an interview at the Palace press area that it would be best to withhold judgment on the formal entry of Roxas in Malacañang until President Aquino signs the concerned AO.

Reacting to the concern raised by Sen. Joker Arroyo, Valte said, “It’s not just baseless but it’s premature. At this point, it would be better to wait for the issuance of the AO and to see the functions, then to deliver an opinion based on the AO.”

She noted that if the senator would review past Palace statements on the issue, he would see that Malacañang has consistently said that the AO has not been finalized “precisely because we are studying the functions of the Executive Secretary, the Presidential Management Staff and the newly created office to avoid any overlapping of functions.”

When asked, Valte said the President has not set a time table for Roxas to assume his official duties as he wants to ensure that his functions are properly delineated.

She said, in the meantime, Roxas would continue to help President Aquino in an unofficial capacity.

“He is there to help the President whenever the President seeks help or seeks advice... Senator Mar has always been there to give advice when asked for it,” Valte said.

Valte also said Malacañang is confident that the AO, though still being drafted, would stand in court, as its legal basis would be “the power of the President over the executive offices.”

“Based on the Administrative Code, the President can reorganize his offices as he sees fit. We have seen this in the past administrations. In the administration of former President Gloria Arroyo, there was an Office of the Chief of Staff,” she said.

Sen. Joker Arroyo had warned that the creation of the position of “presidential chief of staff” for Roxas would “cause confusion and pandemonium” in Malacañang as it could potentially overlap with the functions of the Executive Secretary.