GMA accepts NTC head’s resignation

President Arroyo accepted yesterday with “deep regret” the resignation of National Telecommunications Commission head Abraham Abesamis, whose successor Malacañang already announced days earlier.

Earlier this week, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced the appointment of Undersecretary Ruel Canobas of Malacanang’s Office of the Political Adviser to the NTC but gave no reason for the removal of Abesamis.

Abesamis was appointed to the NTC in November 2006 as replacement for then commissioner Ronald Solis.

A retired Navy officer with the rank of rear admiral, Abesamis headed the communications arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said that the President commended Abesamis for his performance “which resulted in major policy shift towards the protection of the consumers and at the same time provided the specific guidelines on the proper conduct of players in the broadcast and telecommunications industries.”

Bunye explained that as a lawyer, Canobas would be better qualified to make the NTC address the changing requirements of advancement in telecommunications.

Meanwhile, former Insurance Commissioner Eduardo Malinis is back as head of the country’s insurance regulator replacing Evangeline Escobillo, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves confirmed yesterday.

He declined to provide details on the circumstances surrounding the sudden appointment of Malinis but expressed confidence that the IC remains in good hands.

The Finance chief also expressed his gratitude to Escobillo for her stint at the commission.

“We thank Vangie for her contribution to the IC especially in pursuing reforms to strengthen the insurance industry,” Teves said.

Malinis’ appointment came on the wake of the filing of a graft case with the Ombudsman against Escobillo in connection with a P10.596-million computer deal.

Malinis, for his part, has been involved in the insurance industry for 36 years, of which 26 years was with the IC and 10 years with the Cooperative Insurance System.

He is the president of the Association of Insurance Supervisors in Developing Countries and of the Asean Association of Insurance Commissioners. He is also the Philippine delegate to the World Trade Organization.