Yabut on top of list to replace De Luna

An old name in politics and sports is being tipped as Ambrocio de Luna’s replacement as PSC commissioner.

Nemesio “King” Yabut Jr., whose father was the former mayor of Makati and former head of the RP amateur boxing association, yesterday emerged as the prime candidate for the post.

De Luna, who became commissioner of the PSC under the chairmanship of Eric Buhain, will leave the sports agency after being given another government post.

Sources said Malacañang has already named De Luna as assistant secretary at the Department of Agrarian Reforms.

Yabut could not be reached for comment but word is out that his name is on top of the very long list of candidates just waiting for the final approval from Malacañang.

Like his father, who had a very colorful stint as mayor of Makati decades ago, Nemesio Jr. also ventured into politics, and in 2001 emerged as the lone winner from among the administration bets in Makati.

But in the last elections he lost in his bid for the vice-mayoral post to Ernesto Mercado. His running mate, actor Lito Lapid, also lost to Jejomar Binay in the mayoral race.

De Luna’s transfer comes barely two days before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, and just a week after commissioner Joey Mundo got his walking papers from Malacañang, too.

Mundo served the PSC for almost three years and was replaced by Olympian Akiko Thomson.

Chairman Butch Ramirez said he has not received any formal announcement from Malacañang regarding De Luna’s transfer to DAR.