PCGG commissioner, GSIS chair named; Paul Soriano out

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has appointed new officials to various agencies, including the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), Malacañang announced yesterday.

Angelito Vergel de Dios, a former executive director of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Traffic and Transport Management Office, was named PCGG commissioner, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a Facebook post.

The PCGG was created by former president Corazon Aquino in 1986 days after the EDSA people power revolution, which ousted Marcos’ late father and namesake. According to Executive Order 1 signed by Aquino, the PCGG shall assist the President in the “recovery of all ill-gotten wealth accumulated by former president Ferdinand E. Marcos, his immediate family, relatives, subordinates and close associates, whether located in the Philippines or abroad.”

In a report published in 2016, the PCGG said it had recovered close to P200 billion worth of assets, monies and properties over the course of the three-decade search.

Other new appointees include Bryan Lim, who was named special envoy to South Korea for trade and investment and Julius Neri Jr., who has been designated general manager and chief executive officer of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.

Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. was named chairman of the Government Service Insurance System while Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, who served as ombudsman during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was appointed member of the board of trustees of the pension fund. Also appointed to the GSIS were Jocelyn Cabreza, Alan Luga and Rita Riddle as members of the board of trustees.

Also appointed were Carminda Arevalo (executive director of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), Joshua Brillantes (health department director IV), Joselito Feliciano (Philippine National Aids Council executive director III), Teresita Tabaog (science department director IV) and Amanda Marie Nograles (trade assistant secretary).

Meanwhile, filmmaker Paul Soriano, husband of celebrity host Toni Gonzaga, is no longer in government as President Marcos’ adviser for creative communications – a confirmation that Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel received from Sen. Sonny Angara during the Senate plenary deliberations into the proposed 2024 budget yesterday. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab