Apostol out as GMA's chief legal counsel

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang confirmed yesterday the resignation of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol, who has decided to join the board of directors of Union Bank.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Apostol’s resignation took effect about one or two weeks ago, but gave no other details as to the reasons for his decision.

It was not clear whether Apostol would be joining the board of Union Bank in a private capacity or as a nominee of the government, which has a stake in the bank through the investment of the Social Security System.

Union Bank currently has three board members from the SSS, namely, Thelmo Cunanan, Arturo San Gabriel and Lucito Sioson.

Former senator Ralph Recto, who is on the board as an independent director, is now the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority.

Union Bank, one of the country’s biggest universal banks, is owned by the Aboitiz Group, Insular Life and SSS.

Ermita said that President Arroyo has not yet named anyone to replace Apostol.

Before being appointed as the top lawyer of Malacañang in October 2006, Apostol served in various positions in the local government level, the legislature and the private sector.

During his stint in the House of Representatives as representative of the 2nd district of Leyte, Apostol rose to fame as one of the prosecutors in the impeachment of former President Joseph Estrada.

As chief presidential legal counsel, Apostol gained a reputation for being very vocal and independent on all issues affecting the administration.

While this endeared him to the media, it apparently did not sit well with his superiors who effectively “restricted” access to him by transferring his office from the New Executive Building in Malacañang, where the work area of the media is situated, to the relatively inaccessible Mabini office.     – Marvin Sy