Teehankee is acting GCC

Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee was named yesterday acting head of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said President Arroyo signed Teehankee’s appointment yesterday and transmitted the papers to Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, who oversees the OGCC.

However, Bunye said he could not explain why Teehankee was appointed as "acting head" by Mrs. Arroyo.

Bunye said Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Avelino Cruz would be the "competent" person to answer queries on the appointment of Teehankee.

Bunye also did not say why Amado Valdes was removed as OGCC head.

But rumors say Valdes drew the ire of Mrs. Arroyo after he allegedly issued an "incompetent opinion" on the government’s controversial contract with the Philippine International Airport Terminals Co.

Sources said Teehankee was supposed to "switch posts" with Valdes, who reportedly declined the arrangement.

Valdes would be given another post in government, sources added.

In another development, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) welcomed yesterday the appointment of Solicitor General Simeon Marcelo as Ombudsman.

Marcelo was former national director of the IBP legal aid program and was executive editor of the IBP Journal. His nomination and appointment to the Office of the Ombudsman was strongly endorsed by the IBP board of governors.

"The IBP is confident that Solicitor General Marcelo would bring to the Office (of the Ombudsman) the competence, integrity and independence necessary to properly discharge the duties of initiating reforms in the public sector and of strengthening good governance in the country," IBP national president Teofilo Filando said in a statement. –Marichu Villanueva