Ibrado's brother named acting NSC director

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has appointed nine high-level officials led by former National Security Council (NSC) deputy director general Milo Ibrado, who was appointed as NSC acting director general, replacing National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

Ibrado is the elder brother of Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado.

Prior to his appointment as acting Defense secretary, Gonzales held Ibrado’s post and was also National Security Adviser in a concurrent capacity.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Gonzales is already overloaded with work since his appointment as acting defense chief, whose responsibility includes the chairmanship of the National Disaster Coordinating Council and government coordinator of the Bishops-Ulama Council.

Mrs. Arroyo also appointed Presidential Adviser on Climate Change and Global Warming Heherson Alvarez as commissioner and vice chairman of the newly-formed Climate Change Commission.

Also appointed was John Paolo Hizon as chairman and chief executive officer of the North Luzon Railways Corp.

Hizon replaced former Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council chairman Edgardo Pamintuan who will run for mayor in Angeles City next year.

Film director Wilfredo Milan was also appointed chairman of the board of directors of the government-run RPN-9.

Other appointees are Eugene Mateo as chairman of the Board of Accountancy of the Professional Regulatory Commission; Dennis Cunanan as director general of the Technology Resource Center, which is under the Department of Science and Technology; and Orkhan Usman as administrator of the National Dairy Authority under the Department of Agriculture; Apolonio Maleniza II as executive director of the National Youth Commission; and Jose Laquian as deputy administrator of the Cotton Development Administration.