Ex-party-list representative may head CHR

MANILA, Philippines - Former Akbayan Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales is being eyed to be the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chief to replace Leila de Lima, who is now justice secretary.

Palace officials, who asked not to be named, confirmed that Rosales is the choice of President Aquino but her appointment papers have yet to be released.

Rosales served as representative of the party-list group Akbayan from 1998 until 2007 and is founding chairman of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers. She is known for her militant positions on various issues.

The CHR chief has a seven-year tenure.

Meanwhile, the President appointed yesterday retired Maj. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado, as general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, but said he would still withhold any appointment to the National Bureau of Investigation.

He said retired police colonel Magtanggol Gatdula, also a lawyer, is one of his candidates either as director of the NBI or head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa, whom he had asked to defer his retirement during the turnover ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo, would be appointed as “ambassador to an Asian country.”

Honrado took charge of Mr. Aquino’s security, especially after the May 10 elections. He also served during the time of Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino in the late ‘80s.

Roberto Tan was designated national treasurer while Cayetano Paderanga will stay at the National Economic and Development Authority, despite the tax evasion cases filed against him.

The head of the state-run Government Service Insurance System and heads of the other government-owned and controlled corporations are still under study by the search committee tasked to screen applicants, Mr. Aquino said.