Former Quezon City judge to replace Bayani at MMDA

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has appointed former Quezon City judge Oscar Inocentes as acting Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde announced the appointment of Inocentes yesterday in anticipation of the resignation of current MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando at the end of the month.

Fernando announced his plan to run for president in next year’s polls, most likely as an independent since he has already left the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

Inocentes joined the Arroyo administration as presidential assistant on judicial affairs and is currently undersecretary for political coalition affairs for the National Capital Region under the Office of the President.

His appointment came as a surprise as it was expected that someone from inside the MMDA would take the place of Fernando.

Inocentes’ experience has primarily been in the judiciary, starting as a prosecutor then judge in Quezon City.

After his stint in the judiciary, Inocentes served as a member of the board of trustees of the Government Service Insurance System.

Among his accomplishments as contained in the bio-data provided by Malacañang, Inocentes was the recipient of two presidential awards during the Macapagal and Marcos administrations for his work in two high-profile cases as a prosecutor.

The late President Diosdado Macapagal gave Inocentes a presidential award for his work in the kidnap-for-ransom case against the so-called Big Four Syndicate.

During the Marcos administration, Inocentes was recognized for his role in the conviction of one of the suspects in the Maggie dela Riva rape case.

Inocentes is also an active member of the Rotary Club and the Jaycees as well as a number of religious organizations such as the Legion of Mary, Christian Family Movement and various parish organizations.

He is senior partner in the Inocentes Lacuanan & Associates Law Office, chairman of the board of the Glorious Sun Agricultural & Development Corp. where his wife is president, director of the Philippine General Insurance Corp., president and chief officer of Rotary Foundation Inc. and chairman of the board of Banco San Juan Inc.

Fernando took over the chairmanship of the MMDA from Benjamin Abalos Sr. in 2002 after the latter was appointed chairman of the Commission on Elections.

While he was able to institute several reforms and implement various projects during his tenure as MMDA chief, Fernando was also subjected to widespread criticism for his uncompromising ways, particularly in clearing the streets of sidewalk vendors and removing informal settlers.

Fernando has long wanted to run for president but it is only now that he has openly stated his intentions.

He took part in the selection process of Lakas-Kampi-CMD but lost out to a party newcomer, former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr.

Considering that he was one of the original members of the now defunct Lakas-CMD, Fernando felt slighted over his loss to Teodoro and recently announced his departure from Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

In spite of the absence of any support from a major political party, Fernando said that he would push through with his presidential bid.