MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has named Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) commissioner Sandra Sanchez-Montano as the new chair of the agency, Malacañang announced yesterday.
Montano replaced Rhodora Bucoy, who resigned as PCW chair last July 7.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque could not say why Duterte named a new PCW chair, merely noting that appointing officials is a prerogative of the President.
A rumor circulated that Duterte had fired Bucoy but PCW denied this.
“The Philippine Commission on Women denies rumors that President Duterte fired PCW chairperson Rhodora Bucoy,” the commission said in a statement.
“However, we would like to inform our stakeholders that Chairperson Bucoy tendered her resignation letter dated July 7, 2020 which is yet to be transmitted to our head agency, the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” it added.
PCW said it has not released any media advisory on Bucoy’s replacement and the resignation of three commissioners.
Before her appointment as PCW chair, Montano was commissioner representing the science and health sector.