Ex-PAF chief heads CAAP... for 17 days

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino appointed yesterday former Philippine Air Force chief William Hotchkiss to head the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), replacing Ramon Gutierrez.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. informed Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas of Hotchkiss’ appointment “for a term ending on 30 June 2012” or exactly 17 days.

Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte confirmed that Hotchkiss will only be serving as CAAP chief for more than two weeks but is “subject to reappointment for another term.” 

It was not clear, however, whether Gutierrez resigned from his post or was fired.

But sources said Gutierrez was replaced for his alleged failure to place CAAP to category 1 status during his nearly two years in office.

According to the website of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which was posted in January 2011, Gutierrez should be enjoying a “fixed four-year term” or until 2015.

He replaced CAAP chief Alfonso Cusi, who served during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

More appointments bared

Aquino also appointed Governors Casimiro Ynares of Rizal and Miguel Rene Dominguez of Saranggani as chairpersons of the Regional Peace and Order Councils of Regions 4-A and 12, respectively.

The duo’s appointment papers were turned over to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo through Secretary Julia Abad of the Presidential Management Staff.

Other appointees are directors Caridad Abuan and Maximo Aljibe, Lily Freyda Macabangon, Raul Alvarez, Carmina Alonzo and Maria Teresita Semana, all under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Priscilla Ong was appointed director III at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) while Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicators were Victor Baguilat, Myrna del Socorro, Ibra Omar, Luis de los Santos, Jr., Ivy Joy Magabo, Nanette Que, Erwin Ruiz, and Johnson Cinco.

Victorino Manalo was designated executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts - National Archives of the Philippines.

The new School Division Superintendents from the Department of Education are Norma Maalindog, Mercelita Pormentilla and Araceli Salmorin.

Sherrie Ann Austria replaced Alfredo Bitangcol who will serve as director IV of the Public Private Partnership Center of the Philippines under the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), coterminous with President Aquino in 2016.

Claro Ortiz was appointed director II of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Ernesto Aradanas will serve as executive vice president of the National Defense College of the Philippines.

The new commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission is Wigberto Clavecilla.– With Rudy Santos