Musical chairs at DOTC

MANILA, Philippines -- President Arroyo has named retired Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao as Land Transportation Office chief in place of Alberto Suansing, who has been appointed Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman.

LTFRB Chairman Thompson Lantion, also a retired police general, was named transportation undersecretary in charge of the two agencies.

Meanwhile, another retired PNP chief, Roberto Lastimoso, is set to retire as Metro Rail Transit general manager after reaching the civil service retirement age of 65 last Jan. 24.

“I’m supposed to be retired,” Lastimoso told The STAR when asked about the reported order from Malacañang naming another retired police general to the MRT post.

“I’ve reached the mandatory age for retirement in the government service.”

However, Lastimoso said he has yet to receive the order appointing his replacement.

He would remain in his post until the new MRT general manager has been officially named, he added.

His retirement would enable him to focus on his plan to run for a local post in his native Capiz next year, Lastimoso said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Transportation Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Berroya, another retired police general, will take over from Lastimoso as MRT general manager.

Yesterday, Secretary Cerge Remonde assumed office as Press Secretary in place of Jesus Dureza who is now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. Remonde’s post as Director General of the Presidential Management Staff was taken over by former Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who is a retired Armed Forces chief.

Esperon was replaced as peace adviser by National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr., another retired PNP chief.    - With Rainier Allan Ronda