Noy appoints Carandang's mother to PRC

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed the mother of Secretary Ricky Carandang as member of the board of state-run Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Ma. Lourdes Carandang has been designated chair of the PRC’s Board of Psychology.

The secretary, a former news anchor of TV giant ABS-CBN, heads the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.

Appointing allies in government is nothing new in the administration.

Early this year, Aquino appointed the father and brother of his Liberal Party ally, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. – the lead impeachment prosecutor – to two different posts in government, while his sister was designated as board member of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Information provided by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda showed that former Iloilo governor Niel Tupas Sr., also a former congressman, was appointed executive director of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Co.

The second-term congressman’s brother Raul was appointed by Aquino as director III of the Department of Agriculture in September 2011.

Lacierda, however, clarified that Tupas’ sister, Nielette Tupas-Balleza, was “not a presidential appointee” since she was appointed by the PCSO Board in May 2011.

The spokesman also revealed Ms. Balleza is a “national consultant” of PCSO.

Likewise, the fathers of two members of the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona have also been appointed by the President to two separate government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).

Former senator Wigberto Tañada, father of House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, and former Quezon City councilor Jorge Banal Sr., father of incumbent Quezon City Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal Jr., have taken their oath before Aquino.

The elder Tañada was designated chairman and member of the board of directors of UCPB-CIIF Oil Mills Group, a government-sequestered firm, while the elder Banal was appointed acting member of the board of directors of the Poro Point Management Corp.

Erin, who represents a district in Quezon province, is among the three spokesmen in the Corona impeachment trial while the younger Banal – a former city councilor – is working with the House impeachment secretariat.

Both belong to the ruling Liberal Party where Aquino sits as chairman.

Representative Banal’s name rose to national prominence after a Philippine Savings Bank employee testified that he went to their Katipunan branch and tried to verify with her if the bank documents allegedly leaked to him were authentic. She turned down his request.

During the impeachment trial, the congressman affirmed everything and claimed that he got his bank documents covering Corona’s accounts from an anonymous source who left it on the gate of his house in Quezon City.