Palace still looking for new Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas chief

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has yet to pick the successor to the late Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Nestor Espenilla, who died last week of tongue cancer.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo yesterday said the Chief Executive is still looking for an individual who has both the integrity and competence to lead BSP.

Asked what the Palace is expecting of the next BSP governor, Panelo said it is important that he or she knows the job well enough to continue the tasks left by Espenilla.

“I suppose it’s the same – it’s the continuity of the work done by the previous governor,” he said.

The Palace statement came after former BSP governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the next governor should be a career central banker with a firm grasp of macroeconomics and monetary policy.

Among the contenders for the BSP post are: Diwa Guinigundo, Chuchi Fonacier, current BSP officer-in-charge Cyd Tuano-Amador and Monetary Board member and former trade secretary Peter Favila.