Retired Army officer named representative to US Veterans Office

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed a retired Philippine Army major general as the country’s presidential representative to the Veterans Affairs Office in Washington DC.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced on Friday the appointment of 65-year-old Delfin Lorenzana, whose term of office would be co-terminus with the President until June 2016.

Lorenzana, who held the same position during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from November 2004 to September 2009, holds the title of “special presidential representative.”

He was also defense and armed forces attaché in the Philippine embassy in Washington from August 2002 to October 2004. Before this, he was Army commanding general (special operations command) from July 2001 to July 2002.

He also served as commanding general of the Light Armored Brigade and ground commander of Task Force Libra from March 28 to July 23, 2001.

Lorenzana was part of the Presidential Security Group that now Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin used to head when Aquino’s mother – the late President Corazon Aquino – was Chief Executive. He served as assistant chief of staff for operations (G3) from September 1989 to June 1991.

Lorenzana graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1973.

Other appointees

Also yesterday, Aquino appointed new officials in the Department of Education (DepEd).

In a transmittal letter signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. addressed to DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, Aquino appointed Luz Arriola, Germelina Pascual and Ramir Uytico as acting school division superintendents.

Arriola replaced Victoria Aguas, while Pascual took the place of Rolando Magno. Uytico replaced Emolyn Corteza.

Arriola earned a masteral degree in educational administration from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2002 and graduated with a degree in English from Adamson University in 1975.

Pascual obtained her masteral degree in education from Dr. Gloria Lacson Foundation Colleges in 2002 and graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas where he got his education degree, also in 1975.

Uytico got his doctoral degree in education from the University of the Visayas in 1998, masteral degree in education in 1994 and a baccalaureate degree in education from the Cebu Normal University in 1987.