Noy names new deputy commissioner for IC

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed De La Salle University College of Law professor Dennis Funa as deputy commissioner of the Insurance Commission under the Department of Finance.

The appointment was dated June 6.

Funa, who also served as executive director of the Videogram Regulatory Board during the Ramos administration, will handle the expanded jurisdiction of the commission, which includes regulatory supervision of pre-need companies.

The Insurance Commission also sits as a member of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Funa, a recognized law practitioner for 20 years and an authority on intellectual property and constitutional law, was recommended by Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

Funa finished law at San Beda College and passed the bar in 1992. He took his undergraduate degree from De La Salle University.

He completed professional law training in Japan, India and Geneva, Switzerland.

Funa previously served as special assistant to the appointments secretary of former President Fidel Ramos.

He has also been a national officer of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for the past 11 years. His last position was national director for Bar Discipline, which investigates disbarment complaints against erring lawyers.

Last week, Aquino also appointed chief government negotiator Alex Padilla as member of the board of directors of the state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).