Duterte appointments

Current police chief Oscar Albayalde is set to retire on November 8 and President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to respect senior in the ranks of the Philippine National Police.

Sen. Bong Go, who was aide to the president, said the three most senior officials after Albayalde—Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa and Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar—are all on Duterte's list of possible successors.

“Wala pa [napipili]. May shortlist and I’m sure he will respect the seniority sa pagpili ng next chief PNP,” Go said on the sidelines of an event on Friday, as quoted by News5.

President Rodrigo Duterte names former Davao City Administrator Wendel Avisado as acting budget secretary. — with Alexis Romero/The STAR

Court of Appeals Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda has been appointed to the Supreme Court, according to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Itinalaga ni Pres. Rodrigo Duterte si Court of Appeals Justice Rodil Zalameda sa Korte Suprema, ayon kay Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. Siya ang kapalit ni Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo na nagretiro noong Hulyo 29. | via @halili_maricel pic.twitter.com/uGZbM6dZjJ

— News5 AKSYON (@News5AKSYON) August 5, 2019

Zalameda, who was appointed to the CA in 2008, replaces SC Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, who retired in June.

Former Buhay party-list Rep. Mariano Michael Velarde, son of the founder of El Shaddai, is appointed as deputy director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Velarde is among a slew of appointments by President Duterte across government agencies, including at the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

The lineup includes former Marlene Padua, a former dean of Arellano University's School of Nursing, who is appointed as board member of Philhealth, and Rowena Modesto-San Pedro who was named associate justice at the Court of Tax Appeals.

(Erratum: An earlier version of this alert described former Rep. Velarde as the son of the founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo. He is the son of Brother Mike Velarde, who is the founder of El Shaddai.)

The Supreme Court Public Information Office announces the appointments of the following justices:

Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice

• Jean Marie Bacorro-Villena (vice Lovell R. Bautista).

Court of Appeals Associate Justices

• Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale (vice Renato C. Francisco)
• Alfredo Ampuan (vice Jose C. Reyes, Jr.)
• Carlito Calpatura (vice Romulo V. Borja)
• Lily Biton (vice Magdangal De Leon)

According to the Official Gazette, the president makes appointments to the judiciary from a list prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council, which is under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

President Duterte appoints retired army general Ricardo Morales to Philhealth's board.

He is among the many former generals appointed to high-ranking positions in Duterte's administration.

The president also appoints police Chief Superintendent Allan Iral as the new chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Iral was officer-in-charge of the bureau before his appointment to replace Bato dela Rosa, who is now senator-elect.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo says President Duterte is eyeing a certain Dr. Jaime Cruz to take over as Philhealth chief.

Panelo: Duterte is eyeing Dr. Jaime Cruz for Philhealth chief portfolio

— christina mendez (@xtinamen) June 11, 2019

He adds that Duterte asked PhilHealth officials to resign because he wants a clean slate as the probe on the ghost dialysis controversy is ongoing.

Panelo says Pres. Duterte asked PhilHealth officials to resign because he wants a clean slate as the probe on the ghost dialysis controversy is ongoing @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) June 11, 2019

Columnist Ramon Tulfo, who said in March that Filipino workers are lazy and who was in the news last year for a tantrum at the PGH, has been named special envoy for public diplomacy of the president to the People's Republic of China.

Duterte has appointed Mon Tulfo as special envoy for public diplomacy of the President to China. He will serve for a term of six months. | @xtinamen pic.twitter.com/x2PggJRU5Z

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) May 28, 2019

Aurora Ignacio, a former assistant secretary at Malacañang, is appointed as the new president and CEO of state-run social insurance program Social Security System.

This makes Ignacio the first female chief of the SSS.

She formerly headed the Social Security Commission, the policy-making body of the SSS.

President Duterte will have to appoint a new Social Security Systems chief following reports that Emmanuel Dooc has stepped down.

Dooc cites the expiration of his term under the new SSS charter.

Shortly after saying the Palace is confident the congressional Commission on Appointments will confirm the appointment of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor, it now says he will not need to go through the panel at all.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo says the position of BSP governor is not included in the appointive positions that "Article VII, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution governs presidential appointments [require] the nod of the Commission on Appointments."

On Tuesday, Panelo said he was sure allegations of irregularities that have contributed to the delayed passage of the General Appropriations Act of 2019 would not impede Diokno's confirmation at the CA.

"We have a good man there, we have an experienced man, we have an expert man, we have a man of integrity," he said.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo says they expect incoming Bangko Sentral Governor Diokno to spearhead reform initiatives that will align the financial institution’s operations with international best practices and improve its corporate viability.

Panelo: In his new tour of duty in the BSP, we expect incoming Governor Diokno to spearhead reform initiatives that will align the financial institution’s operations with international best practices and improve its corporate viability @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) March 4, 2019

Panelo: With Diokno at the helm of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, our banking institutions are in good and competent hands @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) March 4, 2019

Panelo: We wish Sec. Diokno all the best in his endeavors as the new chief of the country’s central monetary authority @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) March 4, 2019

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III says budget chief Benjamin Diokno brings together the "elusive combination" of seasoned technocrat and professional manager which will contribute to his stewardship of Bangko Sentral as its next governor.

Here is the full text of his statement:

Dr. Benjamin E. Diokno brings together that elusive combination of seasoned technocrat and professional manager. He knows the inner workings of government and industry, and has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to run a large, complex organization with intellectual leadership and a steady hand. All of these will contribute to his successful stewardship of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as its next Governor and Chairman of the Monetary Board. His competence is unquestionable, owing to his deep expertise in macroeconomics and extensive senior management experience in government and the private sector.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte appointed Dr. Diokno as Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management on June 30, 2016. As Budget Secretary, he supported a fiscal policy to finance investments in human capital development and public infrastructure, guided by a pro-growth, pro-poor and balanced economic development strategy.

As Budget Secretary from 1998 to 2001 and DBM Undersecretary from 1986 to 1991, Diokno helped craft the Local Government Code, specifically on fiscal decentralization, and was involved in major tax and procurement policy reforms, as well as reforms that would enhance transparency and improve the efficiency of government service delivery.

Some of Dr. Diokno’s major policy reform contributions include technical assistance to the 1986 Tax Reform Program to simplify the income tax system and introduce the value-added tax; helping design the 1991 Local Government Code of the Philippines; initiating a What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get policy to streamline the release of funds; sponsoring the internationally-lauded Government Procurement Reform Act to modernize, regulate, and standardize government procurement activities in the Philippines.

Past senior managerial positions include Chairman and CEO of the Philippine National Oil Company and Chairman of the Local Water Utilities Administration. He was Independent Director of the Asia United Bank; Chairman of the Board of Regents, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila; and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center.

Dr. Diokno also served as Fiscal Adviser to the Philippine Senate and Senior Advisor, International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC). He has been consultant to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Commission, and USAID for work in the Philippines, China and transitioning economies like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Mongolia. 

His policy expertise and research contributions extend to various areas of public economics, such as the structure and scope of government, tax policies and reforms, public expenditure management analysis, fiscal decentralization, national budget and public debt among other topics. A paper he co-authored with some of the country’s top economists (Emmanuel S. de Dios, Raul V. Fabella, Felipe M. Medalla and Solita C. Monsod) entitled “Exchange Rate Policy: Recent Failures and Future Tasks” was awarded the Outstanding Scientific Paper Award by the National Academy of Science and Technology. 

Dr. Diokno is Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration (1968) and Masters’ Degrees in Public Administration (1970) and Economics (1974) from the same university. He also earned a Master of Arts in Political Economy (1976) from the Johns Hopkins University, USA and a Ph.D. in Economics (1981) from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, USA.

Dr. Diokno was named Quezon City’s Most Outstanding Citizen in 2014 and Most Outstanding Faculty Member (for Public Service), University of the Philippines-Diliman in 1991. He was born in Taal, Batangas on March 31, 1948.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno is appointed as the new governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas by President Rodrigo Duterte.

President Rodrigo Duterte appoints another general to a ranking government post. This time it's retired Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Galileo Kintanar Jr., whom he named the new head of the Philippine Coconut Authority board.

The Palace says President Duterte continues to trust Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno after the House of Representatives adopted a resolution urging the chief executive to reconsider the budget official's appointment.

The House on Wednesday adopted House Resolution 2365. Diokno underwent questioning by lawmakers on Tuesday over his role in the P75 billion in "insertions" in the Public Works department's proposed 2019 budget.

Palace: The President continues to trust Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno and the confidence reposed on him remains unimpaired pic.twitter.com/V53fbKFnlk

— christina mendez (@xtinamen) December 13, 2018

Jesus Melchor Quitain, an undersecretary at the Office of the President, has been designated officer-in-charge of the Office of the Special Assistant of the President.

Look | Memorandum designating Usec. Jesus Melchor Quitain as Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President pic.twitter.com/jmhrMa8Ght

— Maricel Halili-Gahol (@halili_maricel) November 12, 2018

According to the memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the designation is effective immediately.

Christopher "Bong" Go, the former special assistant to the president, is running for senator and has officially vacated the post. He has still been seen with President Rodrigo Duterte at the president's official functions, however.

Former Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña appointed as TESDA chief.

LOOK: Appointment paper of TESDA chief and former customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/w8OHT4xPaS

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) November 5, 2018

Speaking at the anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard, President rodrigo Duterte says he will transfer Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to the Technical Skills and Education Development Authority.

There was talk earlier this month that TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong would be running for local office.

Replacing Lapeña at the Bureau of Customs is former Armed Forces chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero, who was made administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority in April.

The transfers come in the wake of the Customs commissioner's acknowledgement that magnetic lifters seized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority seized in August may have contained drugs.

He had previously denied the PDEA's claim that the lifters contained drugs—the president himself dismissed it as "mere speculation"—and said earlier this month that he will not resign.

President Duterte has made columnist Ramon Tulfo his Special Envoy for Public Diplomacy to the People's Republic of China, appointment papers released to the media show.

Tulfo was involved in a public spat in August with the Philippine General Hospital, where he took a video on his mobile phone while berating an emergency room doctor for allegedly not treating a child his driver had run over. Tulfo insisted the emergency room was a public place because the PGH is a public hospital. 

The president has also named Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza his special envoy to the European Union. It is unclear if that will mean Dureza will leave his post as peace adviser.

President Rodrigo Duterte says Senior Inspector Sofia Loren Deliu, who has been in his close-in security, will replace Christopher "Bong" Go as his aide de camp, ONE News reports.

JUST IN | Pres. Rodrigo Duterte announces Sofia Deliu will replace Christopher "Bong" Go as his aide de camp. pic.twitter.com/SfiKC6hvBf

— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) October 24, 2018

In March, Duterte stood as godfather at the wedding of Deliu to Inspector Abdul Bassar Abdurajak, her classmate at the Philippine National Police Academy.

Go is running for senator and has resigned as special assistant to the president.

President Duterte attends the change of command ceremony of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.

Maj. Gen. Macairog Alberto, chief of the Armed Forces' Intelligence Service, is taking over as commanding general of the 98,000-strong Army.

Prior to his appointment, the Armed Forces of the Philippines bared a supposed "Red October" plot led by communist rebels and allegedly involving Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV's Magdalo and the Liberal Party. All parties allegedly involved denied the existence of the supposed plot.

Nevertheless, the government said last week that the plot had fizzled out but that rebels will try again in December. 

Teddy Locsin Jr., who currently serves as the Philippines' Permanent Representative to the United Nations, confirms he will be the next Foreign Affairs chief. 

He will be replacing Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano who will be running for Congress. Cayetano on Thursday, October 12, said he would be seeking the House speakership if he wins.

I was asked I said yes; but love UN, the many friends & intellectual companions I made. But I didn’t say no when asked as I didn’t when he told me I was UN ambassador. If my Tito Chito Ayala trusted him implicitly; how can I not. Still UN work is like sharpening a blade every day https://t.co/Zc0SHbtpE4

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) October 11, 2018

Taguiwalo says that historically, no general has been appointed as DSWD chief even during Martial Law.

"I think the DSWD has a mandate of providing assistance to vulnerable groups, marginalized groups. And historically, it has been a civilian position even during the martial law period it was headed by a social worker, a doctor of medicine, a development worker or even an economist but never a military man."

"... Social welfare requires [a] participatory process. We place premium on the dignity of an individual, providing them choices and the process even in the department is consultative. So, we have regular meetings which is very much different from how a military organization functions so it is very hierarchical, you obey the commander-in-chief or the general."

Former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo expresses dismay over the appointment of a military general to head the Department of Social Welfare and Development, citing the clashing natures of the two agencies.

"We're not talking about General Bautista per se here. We're talking about the principle of civilian supremacy over the military... We're talking of experience and background in a different field," she says in an interview over CNN Philippines' "The Source." 

"Why not give it, there are so many qualified, I think, social workers, social development workers who have been in the department for so long or else have been doing assistance to vulnerable groups and communities for the longest time."

Retiring Army chief Lieutenant General Rolando Bautista was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the next social welfare secretary.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol denies he wants Jason Aquino back as administrator of the National Food Authority.

"I don't have the power to decide on the fate of Jason Aquino... The fact is that the president's replacement for Jason Aquino, Gen. Rolly Bautista, will only assume mid-October... Now, until such time, since wala pa naman sinasabi si presidente na sinisibak niya si Aquino, Aquino remains as NFA administrator until such time that Gen. Rolly Bautista takes over," he says.

Aquino has asked President Rodrigo Duterte to be relieved from his post amid the country's rice woes. Duterte had faced criticism for allowing Aquino to resign instead of firing him.

Duterte last week said he would be appointing Army chief Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista as administrator of the embattled NFA.

The Judicial and Bar Council finishes drafting a shortlist of nominees who will next take a seat at the Supreme Court, according to a report by The STAR. The nominees are:

• SC Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez
• Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jose Reyes
• Court of Appeals Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang
• Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Garcia
• Court of Appeals Associate Justice Amy Javier
• Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas
• Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Hernando
• Ex-Ateneo law dean Cesar Villanueva

President Rodrigo Duterte will pick one of them to take the seat of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. who is set to retire in August. - with Edu Punay

President Duterte picks Dr. Roy Ferrer as the new PhilHealth chief. 

He is replacing Celestina Ma. Jude Dela Serna who faced controversy amid reports on her excessive trips and costly accommodations.

LOOK: Pres. Duterte names new Philhealth chief @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/N1uxH9iKa5

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) June 4, 2018

Guevarra gets appointment body's nod as the country's justice secretary.

This comes a day after the commission confirmed Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as tourism chief in a swift hearing that lasted around six minutes.

Menardo Guevarra faces the Commission on Appointment for his confirmation hearing as justice secretary.

President Duterte appoints Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Assistant Secretary Jesus Fajardo as Customs deputy commissioner, The STAR's Christina Mendez reports.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol says Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat's appointment as the new tourism chief is a big loss to the Agriculture department.

She is a big loss to the DA especially in our marketing advocacies. But, I am happy for her. Looking at the brighter side, she and I could now work closely and coordinate our efforts and funding in promoting farm tourism and agri-tourism. Knowing her work habits and her honesty as a public official, I know she will excel as tourism secretary.

— with Louise Maureen Simeon

Dela Rosa says he believes he was able to bring back the public's trust to the PNP during his term.

"But generally, naniniwala ako na naibalik ko yung respeto ng taumbayan dahil noon kumpara ngayon, noon pinapabayaan yung problema sa droga ngayon po ay talagang inaaddress ng inyong PNP."

The PNP was taken out of the government's war on drugs, which it has been leading since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed power, twice over credibility and human rights concerns.

The first time was in February 2017 after the murder of Korean Jee Ick-Joo by cops right inside Camp Crame. 

The second time was in October 2017 after Duterte's satisfaction ratings significantly dropped amid protests triggered by the death of minors in the hands of Caloocan City cops.

Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa delivers his final flag ceremony speech as the country's top cop with a vow that the war on drugs will continue under the new leadership. 

National Capital Region Police Office chief Oscar Albayalde will be the next PNP chief while Dela Rosa will assume his post as the next director of the Bureau of Corrections.

He also announces that the Bell 429 helicopter the PNP has purchased has arrived. The chopper is expected to enhance the flexibility of operations by providing air support to cops on the ground.

Dela Rosa says the lowest points in his career as PNP chief were the Jee Ick Joo "Tokhang for ransom" case and the Senate probe into the government's crackdown on drugs.

Menardo Guevarra addresses Department of Justice personnel for the first time as justice secretary.

He says his only ambition is to do his job well before retiring in the private company of his grandchildren.

"This is the mandate the president gave me: Do what is right," he says.

The former senior deputy executive secretary says the DOJ is suffering from a huge image problem.

"It looks solid but its structural integrity is suspect both literally and metaphorically," he says.

"So it is my personal mission to restore the DOJ's dignified and respectable image."

Guevarra replaced former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre who resigned after drawing flak for the DOJ's handling of controversial cases, especially the dismissal of raps against alleged drug lords.

READ: Six controversial cases that earned Aguirre criticism

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra is the new Justice secretary, presidential spokesman Harry Roque says.

Guevarra replaces Vitaliano Aguirre II, whose resignation President Rodrigo Duterte said earlier Thursday that he had accepted. Aguirre's resignation comes after reports that he would be fired this week.

Guevarra's government service includes work in the 2010 Philippine Truth Commission, a stint as deputy executive secretary for legal affairs of the Office of the President in 2015 and as commissioner on the Philippine Competition Commission n February 2016.

He studied law at Ateneo de Manila, where he also took up Political Science as an undergraduate. He has a graduate degree in Economics.

President Rodrigo Duterte says National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde will be the next Philippine National Police chief.