New AFP chief Dellosa, 71 generals take oath

MANILA, Philippines - New Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa along with 71 generals and other Cabinet appointees took their oath before the commander-in-chief at Malacañang yesterday.

Dellosa was appointed in December 2011 after his predecessor Eduardo Oban Jr. retired.

Other officials who took their oath include Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Arturo Cacdac (deputy chief for administration); Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz and Chief Superintendent Alejandro Gutierrez, former Manila Police District Station 5 chief.

President Aquino also swore in Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, former Luzon ombudsman, who replaced Anselmo Cadiz. Cadiz recently resigned after almost two years in government service. Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs, former Bataan Rep. Manuel Mamba; Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Roberto Garcia; National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Public-Private Partnership Center executive director Cosette Canilao; Philippine Coast Guard commandant Edmund Tan; and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) acting president and chief executive officer Eduardo Banzon were also sworn in. Department of Education’s (DepEd) National Book Development Board (NBDB) acting executive director Ma. Andrea Pasion-Flores; board members professor Isagani Cruz and journalist Ruel de Vera; and private sector representatives Ma. Karina Bolasco and Ani Rosa Almario also took their oath before Aquino.

Other appointees sworn in were Governance Commission chairman for government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) Cesar Villanueva and commissioners Angela Ignacio and Rainier Butalid. 

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) undersecretary Parisya Taradji; Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) acting undersecretary Rebecca Chato; Department of Tourism (DOT) assistant secretary Eugene Kaw; and Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) assistant secretary Catherine Jennifer Gonzales and DepEd assistant secretary Elena Ruiz also took their oath. Also sworn in were SBMA board member Joven Reyes; DOT Promotions Board member Kaye Tiñga; Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council deputy secretary-general Felix William Fuentebella; and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System trustees Emmanuel Caparas, Benjamin Yambao, Ma. Cecilia Soriano and Hermogenes Fernando. National Labor Relations Commission presiding commissioner Joseph Gerard Mabilog; and Philippine Foreign Trade Service Corps trade officers Benedict Uy and Magnolia Uy, Christine de la Cruz, Anne and Marie Kristine Umali also took their oath. PhilHealth board members Jane Sta. Ana and Francisco Vicente Lopez, along with Irene Maramag, Monina Camacho and Edgardo Amista – who all represent the private sector as members of the DOH’s National Nutrition Council – were also sworn in.