DILG usec named new BI chief

DAGUPAN CITY — President Arroyo announced yesterday the appointment of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Alipio Fernandez Jr. as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Mrs. Arroyo made the announcement during the inauguration of a new fish market here. Fernandez will take over the post that will be vacated by Commissioner Andrea Domingo, who is running for mayor of San Fernando City in Pampanga in next year’s polls.

Fernandez first served as city councilor in Dagupan City, then as vice mayor for three terms. He was subsequently elected as mayor for three more terms. During his last term as mayor, he was president of the League of Cities of the Philippines.

Mrs. Arroyo said she will swear in Fernandez within the next few days.

News about Fernandez’s appointment earlier spread all over the city but he was silent on the issue. He was reportedly planning to run for Dagupan City mayor in next year’s elections against incumbent Mayor Benjamin Lim.

The President "has already announced it so I have to assume and help the administration," Fernandez said when The STAR asked for his reaction.

He added he was not really surprised by Mrs. Arroyo’s announcement since they discussed it last week.

Fernandez said he will take over the BI’s top post "pretty soon" but added that he still has "to clear my desk at the DILG on Monday or Tuesday."

He also said he is not having second thoughts anymore about accepting the post since the announcement was made by no less than the President.

Fernandez noted that no conditions were set on his acceptance of the BI portfolio. He explained that it was simply a transition from the DILG to the immigration bureau.

When asked about the impact of his appointment on the political scene in Dagupan City, Fernandez said he has to discuss this with some colleagues. His son, Vice Mayor Alvin Vittorio Fernandez, is seeking another term but Lim’s camp is reportedly recruiting a new running mate for the 2004 elections.