'Cong Jing' is new labor undersecretary

MANILA, Philippines — Former Rep. Jacinto "Jing" Paras, one of the figures in the string of cases filed "critical" public officials against this administration, has gotten a post in the government.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in an appointment letter dated Jan. 23, 2018, designated Volunteers against Crime and Corruption member and former Negros Oriental Rep. Paras as undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Paras filed administrative, criminal and impeachment cases against three government officials who have been labeled as the president's enemies.

On Sept. 26 last year, he filed obstruction of justice, kidnapping, and abuse and exploitation of minors against Sen. Risa Hontiveros for allegedly "harboring" underage witnesses in the killing of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos.

He also filed anti-wiretapping law complaints against the Hontiveros for showing, in a privilege speech at the Senate, a photo of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II sending a text message to a certain "Cong Jing."

READ: 'I was targeted': Aguirre cries intrusion of privacy after Hontiveros' statement

On November 16, Paras filed sedition, inciting coup d'etat and inciting undue injury to government raps against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the most vocal critics of Duterte.

Paras also accused Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang of betraying public trust and graft and corruption. A complaint was filed against Carandang before the Office of the President.

The raps against Carandang came amid the Office of the Ombudsman's probe into Duterte's wealth.

Paras is also one of the complainants in the impeachment case against resigned Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista over the latter's alleged P1-billion ill-gotten wealth.

The House justice committee, however, dismissed both complaints.

Paras' appointment came following the appointment of VACC president Dante Jimenez as the chair of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.