Former anti-crime group chief to head SBMA

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – A former chief of an anti-crime and corruption group will take over as head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) this week.

Martin Diño, formerly of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), will replace Roberto Garcia as SBMA chief.

Diño ran in the presidential elections in May, but withdrew his candidacy and named then Davao mayor and now President Duterte as his substitute and standard bearer of PDP-Laban.

A ranking SBMA official said the appointment would remain unofficial until the Office of the President releases Diño’s appointment papers.

The official, who asked not to be named, said Diño sent a transition team the other day to facilitate a smooth turnover of the SBMA leadership.

He said the news was announced during a flag-raising ceremony attended by SBMA employees last Monday.