Peping named jobs ‘czar’

Former Tarlac congressman Jose "Peping" Cojuangco was sworn in yesterday by President Arroyo as her new adviser on food security and job creation.

Cojuangco, brother of former President Corazon Aquino and a top official of the Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA), was among those who were sworn into office by the President in mass oath-taking rites at Malacañang for newly appointed Cabinet members and other government officials and recently promoted police and military generals.

Also sworn in were former public works and highways secretary and nowJustice Secretary Simeon Datumanong, former presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao, who is now the President’s chief of staff, and former environment and natural resources secretary Heherson Alvarez, who now serves as the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Communities, a post that comes with a Cabinet rank.

The President also administered the oaths of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Rosario Uriarte, Deputy Executive Secretary Richard Ferrer, Benjamin de Guzman as undersecretary of the Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) Deputy Director Nor Adiong, and National Food Authority (NFA) senior deputy administrator Jaime Asuncion.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Dionisio Santiago also took his oath of office yesterday with six other newly promoted AFP officers: Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia; Rear Admirals Joaquin Tan and Mateo Mayuga, Commodore Abraham Abesamis, and Brigadier Generals Jovito Palparan and Roberto Nuqui. Palparan had been wounded in an NPA ambush in Negros last December.

Also sworn in were newly promoted police Chief Superintendents Teodorico Viduya, Claudio Cabreros and Delfin Genio Jr.

Meanwhile, the Palace released the official appointment papers of new Press Undersecretaries Milton Alingod and Heraclio Nazareno.

As this developed, The STAR learned that Press Undersecretary for Operations Roberto Capco would retain his post and possibly work as deputy to Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye. Capco was supposedly transferring posts, to work as Tiglao’s deputy.

Bunye, however, neither confirmed nor denied this yesterday. Capco’s new positions, however, have yet to be signed by the President.