Section 13Sec./Art. 13

Rules of Procedure; Discipline of Members and Civil Service Rules. - The Regional Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure by a majority vote of all its members including the selection of members of its standing committees and for the suspension or expulsion of its members.

The Regional Assembly shall elect from among its members a speaker and such other officers as the rules may provide. The Speaker shall appoint the personnel of the Regional Assembly. All qualified applicants shall have equal opportunity for employment with the regional government. Inhabitants of the autonomous region shall, however, have preference for appointment to any position in the regional government without regard to ethnic origin, culture, sex, creed and religion.

For a period not exceeding six (6) years from the date of the approval of this Organic Act, appointments to the various positions in the Regional Government shall be subject to the Civil Service law, rules, and regulations of the central government or national government. Thereafter, the Civil Service law, rules and regulations adopted by the Regional Government shall apply to all such appointments. If no Civil Service law, rules or regulations are adopted by the Regional Government, appointments to positions in the Regional Government shall continue to be governed by the Civil Service law, rules, and regulations of the central government or national government.

A majority of all the members of the Regional Assembly shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent members in such a manner and under such penalties as the assembly may provide.

The Regional Assembly or any of its committees may conduct inquiries or public consultations in aid of legislation in accordance with its rules. In connection therewith, it shall have the power to issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of and the production of papers, documents, or things by witnesses or persons under investigation by the assembly, itself, or by any of its committees. It shall also have the right to cite witnesses or persons under investigation for contempt for refusal to testify before it or before any of its committees or to produce papers, documents or things required by the assembly or any of its committees. The rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.

The Regional Assembly shall keep a journal of its proceedings and a record of its caucuses and meetings. The record and books of accounts of the assembly shall be preserved and open to public scrutiny.

The Commission on Audit of the Regional Government shall publish an annual report of the itemized list of expenditures incurred by the members of the Regional Assembly within sixty (60) days from the end of every regular session.