Wycoco is NBI Chief; 2 Lakas solons named to DPWH, DOTC ; DOJ Orders probe on bombings, mansions

President Arroyo named Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Reynaldo Wycoco the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday as she resumed the task of filling up vacancies in top government posts.

Also joining the President’s official family were two partymates from the Lakas-NUCD: Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Datumanong is the first Muslim member of the Arroyo Cabinet.

Mrs. Arroyo also tapped former Pampanga Rep. Andrea Domingo to head the Bureau of Immigration, which she once headed, and businessman Jesus Alcordo as secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE).

The President also reversed an earlier decision to retain Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Jejomar Binay, appointing former Mandaluyong Mayor Benjamin Abalos to the post.

Other appointees were retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Lisandro Abadia as director general of the National Security Council (NSC), Titus Villanueva as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Vitaliano Nañagas II as president of the Social Security System (SSS), Winston Garcia as president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System, and Victor Dumon as GSIS chairman.

Mrs. Arroyo named her former media director Robert Capco as press undersecretary for operations.

Presidential Spokesman Renato Corona said yesterday former Trade Secretary Mar Roxas II may be tapped to join of the economic team being formed by Mrs. Arroyo.

Roxas, it will be recalled, was the second member of the Cabinet to resign over the jueteng scandal involving ousted President Joseph Estrada. Then Vice President Arroyo, as social welfare secretary, was the first to leave.

Impressive credentials

A member of Class 1968 of the Philippine Military Academy, Wycoco had been the second in command of the PNP hierarchy prior to his appointment as NBI chief.

A policeman for the most part of his career, Wycoco headed Task Force Dragon, the PNP’s elite anti-kidnapping unit responsible for busting a number of syndicates.

He obtained his master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the US.

In addition, Wycoco has maintained good linkages with anti-crime organizations like the Crusade Against Violence. He said excellent rapport with civil society, through non-government organizations, will promote trust and institutional support for the PNP.

"I thank the President for trusting me, and I promise not to fail her," Wycoco said following his appointment.

The 65-year-old Datumanong, who is on his third and last term as the representative of Maguindanao’s second district, currently holds the position of House assistant minority leader.

Prior to joining Congress, the new DPWH secretary held various elective posts, including that of governor of then undivided Cotabato.

Domingo is no stranger to the immigration bureau, having served as commissioner during the Ramos administration. She took over the post of Rufus Rodriguez in a simple turnover ceremony at the Intramuros offices yesterday.

The new immigration chief promised to continue the good projects initiated by her predecessor and work for the passage of a new Immigrations Act still pending in Congress.

Alvarez likewise is a familiar face at the DOTC, having served in 1994 as assistant general manager for operations of the Manila International Airport Authority (MAIA), an agency attached to the DOTC.

Transport and Communications Undersecretary Agustin Bengzon has resigned from his position, saying he will be winding up affairs of his office so a proper turnover can be made to the new appointee.

Bengzon had submitted his original letter of resignation to Estrada last Jan. 7.

Alcordo, the new energy czar, is president of several corporations in power generation, including East Asia Power Resources Corp., subsidiary East Asia Utilities Corp. and Cebu Private Power Corp.

A licensed chemical engineer, Alcordo has also been appointed as chairman of the state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor).

Industry sources said Quezon Rep. Marcial Punzalan and former Edison Mission president Alan Ortiz are the top contenders for the position of Napocor chairman.

Abalos, mayor of Mandaluyong from 1988 to 1999, served as MMDA chief during the Aquino administration.

He said he would immediately get the consensus of Metro Manila mayors in the formulation of policies and implementation of programs.

Binay, who accepted the President‘s decision not to retain him as MMDA chief, wished Abalos well.

"To the new MMDA chairman, good luck and God bless," he said in an emotional farewell to MMDA employees.

Binay said he will start concentrating on his candidacy as mayor of Makati City for the May 14 polls.

Villanueva, who started his career at the BOC as a clerical aide in 1962, rose from the ranks to hold positions as examiner, appraiser, collector and deputy commissioner for assessment and operations.

An acknowledged expert on customs tariff, valuation and classification, the new commissioner has represented the country in numerous customs and multilateral trade negotiations.

Bureau employees said his appointment as BOC chief had been long overdue, having been bypassed three times since Mr. Estrada assumed the presidency in 1998. – With reports from Jess Diaz, Jerry Botial, Marvin Sy, Rey Arquiza, Jose Rodel Clapano, Sheila Crisostomo, Ted Torres, Donnabelle Gatdula, Jaime Laude, Nestor Etolle