Duterte appoints government corporate counsel, others

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has named a new government corporate counsel, replacing his appointee to the post whom he fired for alleged abused of authority. 

Duterte promoted deputy government corporate counsel Elpidio Vega as government corporate counsel last Sept. 27, appointment papers released by Malacañang yesterday showed. 

Vega replaced Rudolf Philip Jurado, who was dismissed last May for his legal opinion that permitted the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APECO) to issue franchises outside Aurora province.

Jurado, who was named government corporate counsel in April 2017, said in his legal opinion that APECO could operate outside the economic zone as long as it is within an area controlled by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

But Duterte did not agree with the opinion, saying it gave Jurado an authority similar to state-run gaming regulator Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. 

Duterte has also appointed Datu Ras Sinsuat Lidasan Jr. as commissioner of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos for a term of four years.

National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman Ronald Cardema was designated NYC representative at the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board appeals committee.

Duterte has also reappointed former lawmaker Monica Teodoro as special envoy to the United Nations Children’s Fund; newspaper owner Dante Ang as special envoy for international public relations; former House speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. as special envoy for intercultural dialogue and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers concerns Abdullah Mama-O as special envoy to Kuwait. 

Ricardo Moldez was named employers’ group representative at the Social Security System security commission. 

Duterte has also included Cook Islands in the jurisdiction of Jesus Domingo, the Philippines’ ambassador to New Zealand who also has concurrent jurisdiction over Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.