Gonzalez absent at oathtaking of government officials

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo led the oathtaking of hundreds of government officials at Malacañang yesterday.

With hundreds of officials taking their oath of office, the new presidential legal counsel was notably absent.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he would leave it up to Raul Gonzalez to say when he will take his oath as Presidential Legal Counsel.

“This is a group oathtaking. He (Gonzalez) may do that (oath) when he feels he is already prepared for it, especially when he reports already for duty,” Ermita said.

Among the officials who took their oaths before the President were Supreme Court Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado.

Sixteen other AFP senior officers were sworn in along with Ibrado while Verzosa led 52 other high-ranking police officials.

Philippine Coast Guard officials Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, Rear Admiral Ramon Liwag and Commodore Edmund Tan were among those who took their oaths.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Zenaida Cruz-Ducut was also sworn in yesterday.

The rest of the officials who took their oaths of office were Maritime Industry Authority administrator Ma. Elena Bautista; National Labor Relations Commission presiding commissioner Alex Lopez; and Municipal Trial Court Judge Julieto Fabrero of Sta. Cruz, Oriental Mindoro;

From the Office of the Solicitor General, assistant solicitors general Luis Simon, Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Ma. Cielo Se-Rodain and Herman Cimafranca;

From the Office of the President, Deputy Executive Secretaries Alberto Bernardo and Natividad Dizon were also sworn in, along with former Presidential Security Group commander Brig. Gen. Celedonio Boquiren Jr. under the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

Two officials each from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology also took part in the ceremony.

Officials from several organizations also joined the oathtaking ceremony. They included the National Directorate and Standing Committees of the Reserve Officers Legion of the Philippines Inc.; CREBA Social Housing Foundation Inc.; Philippine Bowling Congress; and the Alliance of Grains Industry Stakeholders, Philippines Inc.

During the ceremony, the President conferred on Dr. Teodulo Topacio Jr. the title of National Scientist.

Mrs. Arroyo also conferred the Presidential Medal of Merit award to Araceli Villanueva, general manager of the Philippine International Convention Center.

Villanueva was cited for her efforts in bringing back the glory of the PICC as a venue for international conventions, meetings and other events.