P-Noy appoints new executive secretary for legal affairs

Manila, Philippines - Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. announced yesterday the appointment of Michael Aguinaldo as deputy executive secretary for legal affairs as part of the reorganization in the Palace legal office to streamline its operations and further strengthen Malacañang’s legal team.

In a statement, Ochoa said Aguinaldo was appointed by President Aquino last April 27 and now heads the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (ODESLA).

Aguinaldo’s appointment is expected to bolster the team behind ODESLA, which now oversees three divisions following the abolition of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission pursuant to Executive Order 13.

Aside from the Legal and Legislative Divisions, ODESLA also handles the Investigative and Adjudicatory Division, which has taken over the responsibilities of PAGC.

ODESLA reviews administrative cases appealed before the Office of the President (OP), provides the President with input on legal matters and reviews proposed legislation.

“We are conscious of the need to bolster the capabilities of our Legal Department because aside from its added responsibilities, we also want to make significant inroads into cutting the backlog of cases in ODESLA, some of which have been pending there for years,” Ochoa said.

Aguinaldo has been a professor at the Ateneo School of Law since 1994 and was a partner in the Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles Law Office, where he handled litigation and arbitration for foreign and local clients.

A graduate of Philosophy from De La Salle University in 1987, Aguinaldo took up law at the Ateneo and placed 7th in the Philippine bar exams in 1993. He obtained his Masters of Law Degree from the University of Michigan in 1997, with special concentration on international economic law.

Ochoa deputy quits

Meantime, a deputy of Ochoa has resigned from his post, it was learned yesterday.

Ochoa said he has accepted the resignation of Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Jose Amor Amorado, a close associate of the former Quezon City administrator who also helped in President Aquino’s campaign in the 2010 presidential elections.

Rumors have it that Amorado had been slapped by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines with suspension over an infraction he allegedly committed that was not related to his job in the Palace, while some hinted disagreements with Ochoa forced him to leave the office.

“We are thankful for his contributions during the presidential campaign and at the time when we were organizing the OES. His efforts are very much appreciated,” the executive secretary said.

Ochoa said Amorado’s resignation would allow him to pursue his other career plans that have been shelved when he joined the 2010 presidential campaign and the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Amorado had given himself one year to help organize the OES in its formative months prior to accepting the position.

He was a practicing lawyer before he actively campaigned for Aquino in last May’s elections and was director of PiNoy Lawyers, a group of volunteer lawyers who served as the President’s poll watchdog in the last elections.