No new BOC execs as Noy beats deadline on appointments ban

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino beat the deadline on making new appointments but failed to sign the appointment papers of new Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials recommended by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima in relation to the agency’s ongoing revamp. 

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte yesterday announced the new appointments that included reappointments of officials who have been designated by Aquino since he assumed office in 2010.

Palace insiders said the papers of four individuals have been submitted to Aquino for his approval, but others hinted the Chief Executive refused to sign their appointments since all of their names have been lumped together in one memorandum. 

Earlier, Purisima endorsed National Tax Research Center (NTRC) executive director Trinidad Rodriguez and Department of Budget and Management director Myrna Chua as replacements to Customs deputy commissioners Peter Manzano and Juan Lorenzo Tañada, respectively.

The NTRC is under the Department of Finance (DOF).

Two others, Primo Aguas and Agaton Teodoro Uvero, were supposed to replace Ma. Caridad Manarang of the BOC management information system and technology group and Prudencio Reyes Jr. of assessment and operations coordinating group, respectively.

Manarang was appointed DOF assistant secretary.  The fifth recommendee, retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Jessie Dellosa, has not been appointed yet.

A native of Tarlac, Dellosa served as a member of the Presidential Security Group of the late President Corazon Aquino. 

President Aquino appointed Dellosa as AFP chief and he is a personal choice for the BOC.  

Reappointments

The President also reappointed Social Security System officials Emilio de Quiros, Juan Santos, Eliza Bettina Antonio, former labor secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Diana Pardo Aguilar and Marianita Mendoza. 

The same is true for the Government Insurance Service System whose board of directors again include Daniel Lacson, Robert Vergara, Roman Felipe Reyes, Gregorio Yu, former environment secretary Elisea Gozun, Karina Constantino-David, Mario Aguja, Geraldine Marie Berberabe-Martinez and Romeo Alip.

Development Bank of the Philippines chairman Jose Nuñez was also reappointed as well as the board of directors that include Gil Buenaventura, Jose Luis Vera, Alberto Lim, Cecilio Lorenzo, Daniel Laogan and Vaughn Montes. 

New appointments include Arturo Boncato as assistant secretary of the Department of Tourism and Sharon Almanza as deputy treasurer of the Bureau of Treasury. The BoT is also under the DOF.

Former San Francisco consul general Marciano Paynor was appointed director general for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in relation to the Philippines’ hosting of APEC in 2015. 

Marlea Muñez was appointed executive director of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, which is under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process led by Secretary Teresita Deles.

Other new appointees are Ephyro Luis Amatong as assistant secretary of the DOF, Kenneth Tanate as assistant director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, and Raul Aguilos as undersecretary of the Department of Energy. 

Emmanuel Ledesma was appointed president and CEO of the state-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. for a term starting July 2013 until June 30 next year.

Jose Dante Dator is now acting executive director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute under the Department of Health. 

The new commissioners of the Commission on Higher Education are Minella Alarcon and Alex Brillantes Jr. They will replace Nenalyn Defensor and Nona Ricafort, respectively.

At the Philippine National Construction Corp., the new directors are Elpidio Jamora, Cristino Panlilio, Rosanna Mojica, Escareal Velasco and Tomas Falgui.

There are also new prosecutors of the Department of Justice in Manila, Malabon, Quezon City, Pasay City, Baguio City, Pangasinan, Dagupan, San Carlos, Laoag City, Quezon province, Legazpi City and Antipolo City.