11 Aquino appointees take oath before Binay

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven appointees of President Aquino yesterday took their oaths of office before Vice President Jejomar Binay, who performs ceremonial functions in behalf of Mr. Aquino while he is in the US.                                                           

These are Home Guaranty Corp. president Manuel Sanchez and directors Florante Castillo, Danilo Fausto and Magleo Adriano; National Irrigation Administration acting administrator Antonio Nangel; SSS commissioner Marianita Mendoza; Marina deputy administrator Gloria Victoria-Banas; Transport Cooperative chair Leticia Gorospe; Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board acting executive director Dante Xenon Atienza and assistant secretary Raquel Desiderio; and Marianito Dimaandal, appointed director IV of the Records office of the Office of the President.

The President also appointed 12 more officials last Sept. 20, before the Sept. 25 appointments ban ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election takes effect.

Mr. Aquino appointed Robert Vergara to replace Winston Garcia as head of the Government Service Insurance System. Named to the board of trustees were George Yu, Roman Felipe Reyes, and public relations practitioner Danilo Gozo, identified with former senator Mar Roxas.

Appointed commissioners of the Social Security System were former central bank governor Jose Cuisia representing the private sector, Daniel Edralin representing workers’ groups, and Marianita Mendoza representing the women’s sector.                                                                             

Appointed to the board of the Philippine Coconut Authority are Cesar Villariba, Rafael Sarucom and Marcos Dumandan.    

Named as board members of the state-run Land Bank of the Philippines, meanwhile, are Domingo Diaz and Tomas de Leon.                                                                                    

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the newly appointed Cabinet members should be on-call in case Mr. Aquino decides to hold a teleconference from New York.                                                                                    “The President is only a phone call away. He can always ask or be asked to weigh in and decide on any major decision that urgently needs to be acted upon,” he said.

Before leaving for the US, the President issued a memorandum stating that he remains in charge of the country for the duration of the trip.

Binay will represent him in ceremonial and social functions and may preside over a Cabinet meeting, if necessary.      

Ochoa has been authorized to sign documents in authority of the President and to “decide routine matters.” All official communications to Mr. Aquino shall also be transmitted to Ochoa.