Palace names new police colonels

MANILA, Philippines -  Malacañang announced yesterday the new senior superintendents in the Philippine National Police, along with several other appointees of President Aquino in other government agencies.

The four new police senior superintendents are Alberto Austria Avila, Arnulfo Cuison Billote, Sotero de Guzman Ramos and Eugenio Belarmino Paguirigan.

Arnel Paciano Casanova is also the new president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

He replaces retired Armed Forces chief Narciso Abaya.

Casanova’s term is coterminous with that of Aquino.

Casanova also sits as member of the BCDA board of directors, representing the labor sector.

He takes the place of Gerard Seno and his term (as board director) will end in April 2012.

Other board members include Zorayda Amelia Alonzo (term until April 2016), Maria Aurora Geotina-Garcia (until April 2016), Elmar Gomez (April 2012), and Ferdinand Golez (April 2012).

James Koch Dimal and Felipe Gerardo-Mallari have been named members of the board of directors in the Clark International Airport Corp.

They replaced Rafael Lazatin-Angeles and Nestor Mangio.

Rosario Manalo was designated Philippine representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AIHCR).

Masideng Marohombsar Salic was appointed director IV of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, while Arian Mangelen is now acting director II of the Land Transportation Office, replacing Sheik Samoan Mustapha.

Remollo, Melo replace cabalen

In Clark Freeport, former Dumaguete City mayor Felipo Remollo and retired elections chairman Jose Melo were among those named by President Aquino to posts long occupied by “cabalen” of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the Clark Development Corp. (CDC).

The BCDA said Remollo will assume as CDC president and chief executive officer, while Melo will be director of the 10-member board of the state firm.

Arlene Sabat of the office of the BCDA president, told The STAR that Cesar Villanueva, former dean of the Ateneo law school, will take over as chairman of CDC.

Remollo will replace Benigno Ricafort, while Villanueva will take over from Rizalino Navarro.

Sabat said the “desire letter” of the President on the new appointments reached the BCDA last Monday when the appointment of former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Felicito Payumo as new chairman of BCDA was announced.

Villanueva is the brother of Frank Villanueva whom Arroyo had named to the CDC board.

Remollo’s appointment was a surprise to Clark investors and leaders of nearby towns and cities.

Sources said Remollo was backed by former senator Manuel Roxas II, Aquino’s vice presidential running mate.

“This could be some kind of political accommodation for Roxas for his political plans in 2016, amid the increasing popularity of Vice President Jejomar Binay whose presidential ambition is also known to all,” said a member of the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) who asked not to be named.

A native of Dumaguete who now works as a doctor in a big hospital in nearby Angeles City described as “unimpressive” Remollo’s term as mayor of his city.

“There were reports of some untoward (incidents) during his term,” he said.

The new appointees would still have to be confirmed by members of the board of BCDA later this month and be named as members of the CDC board before they could assume post.

Most of the 10 members of the CDC board are also set to be replaced.

One of those to assume post in the board is Francis Elum, a former CDC vice president. – Delon Porcalla, Ding Cervantes