Benipayo named solicitor general

It’s official: Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Alfredo Benipayo is the new solicitor general.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said yesterday President Arroyo signed Benipayo’s appointment papers last Oct. 11 and transmitted it on the same day to Justice Secretary Hernando Perez.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Avelino Cruz sent a memorandum to Perez yesterday to officially inform him of the appointment of Benipayo.

Meanwhile, Bunye said it was Lolito Utitco whom Mrs. Arroyo had named deputy director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and not Fermin Nasol.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco would have to explain what caused the confusion in the appointment of Utitco, he added. –Marichu Villanueva