Oaminal appointed chairman of DDB

CEBU, Philippines - Dangerous Drugs Board vice chairman Clarence Oaminal has been appointed chairman of the DDB following the resignation of Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

Oaminal said that Press Secretary Cerge Remonde confirmed his new appointment as chairman of DDB but he has not yet received a formal order from Malacañang.

“But for now, as long as there is no appointment order coming from Malacañang legislating me as the chairman, I have to assume the role as the acting chairman of DDB, kay importante man na nga modagan ang opisina og importante nga naa’y figure head sa opisina, someone who will lead the office,” Oaminal told The FREEMAN yesterday.

“By virtue of the rule of succession sa office, because I am the vice chairman automatically ako’y ni-assume as acting chairman sa DDB,” he said.

Oaminal was in Cebu yesterday to give award to Cebu City policeman and barangay tanods in the mountain barangay in Pung-ol Sibugay. He said before he left Manila for Cebu, he had checked his new office. 

Oaminal explained that the DDB is composed of 17 members, 14 of whom are ex-officio members who are chiefs of different government agencies.

The remaining three are permanent members appointed by the president. They hold office at the DDB unlike those ex-officio members.

The three permanent members – Sotto, Oaminal and Vice chairman Romeo Vera Cruz – were appointed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo since 2008.

Oaminal said that when he was appointed as the permanent member of DDB, he was also appointed as its vice chairman.

“Dili man permanent nga mohawa nako as the vice chairman, unless the president will formally chose me as the chairman of the board. Mao nga naghupot ko karon og duha ka pwesto, as the acting chairman and vice chairman,” Oaminal said. — Johanna T. Natavio/LPM (THE FREEMAN)