GMA names Bautista as new PCGG commissioner

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has appointed former ambassador Jaime Bautista as commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), ending concerns of a prolonged leadership squabble at the agency primarily created to go after ill-gotten Marcos wealth.

Bautista, former ambassador to Moscow, will be co-chairing PCGG’s legal affairs department with PCGG Commissioner Narciso Nario, former Sandiganbayan associate justice.

PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio made the announcement yesterday as he welcomed the appointment of his friend and law classmate.

“He (Bautista) will be co-commissioner for legal affairs,” Sabio told reporters during the briefing.

Bautista was already the special legal consultant of the PCGG before his appointment as commissioner.

He is expected to boost the agency’s law department that keeps track of the numerous civil cases filed in the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court to confiscate assets of the Marcoses and their cronies, Sabio said.

It was learned that Bautista was appointed March 27, 2008, but his appointment papers were only received by the PCGG last Friday.

The appointment of Bautista finally put to rest rumors being circulated that a former commissioner, Nicasio Conti, will be re-appointed to the commission.

The talks sparked a leadership squabble as Sabio declared he did not want to work with Conti again.

Sabio reportedly declared during a PCGG flag assembly that he would resign if Conti was reappointed. He later denied making the statement.

Conti was alleged to have been behind the filing of a graft complaint against Sabio before the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission involving a series of unliquidated cash advances in 2006 worth P10 million.

Sabio had earlier shrugged off the filing of the complaint and claimed the P10-million cash advances taken by the PCGG from a sequestered company were approved by the commission in en banc session with Conti attending.

Bautista’s appointment came after the brief second tour of duty by William Dichoso at the PCGG, serving less than a month as commissioner.

Dichoso was reported to have resigned in disgust after Conti questioned his appointment.

Conti’s aides said Malacañang recalled Dichoso’s appointment shortly after it was announced last November.

Conti’s chief of staff Francis Villanueva claimed the recall of Dichoso’s appointment effectively reinstated Conti.

PCGG has four commissioners. Aside from Nario and Bautista, the other two commissioners are Ricardo Abcede and Tereso Javier.