Aquino defends appointment of Alcasid's father

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino defended the appointment of the father of singer-actor Ogie Alcasid as member of the board of directors of the Philippine National Oil Co.-Development and Management Corp.

Aquino stressed Herminio Alcasid was qualified for the position and went through the selection process.

Aquino denied allegations the appointment was a payback to Ogie who campaigned for him during the May 10 elections.

“If I’m going to pay (political) debts I would have done it in my first week in office,” Aquino told reporters during an event in Gerona, Tarlac on Friday.

Aquino pointed out that he would be answerable to the public for every appointment he makes.

“So we deemed it better that except for very critical operations, like Cabinet positions... the others I can afford a little more time. So the process is full,” he said.

Aquino said the elder Alcasid is a lawyer by profession with a career in banking and shipping.

Impressive background

Malacañang earlier said the appointment of Alcasid’s father could not be questioned because his background is impressive.

Aquino said it was taking time for his administration to put the right people in various positions mainly because they would want to ensure that the search committee had gone over all their background and track record.

“Are there derogatory reports about this person? Sometimes we are on the verge of appointing somebody and we get back minute information of a derogatory nature, we withdraw the appointment,” Aquino said.

“We are open... In the case of Mr. Alcasid... I’m very confident that like others, if you notice it is November only when he got appointed and took his oath of office. He went through the process,” he stressed.

Other appointees

Malacañang also announced yesterday the appointment of a senior official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and two members of the board of directors of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Maria Victoria Jasmin was appointed DOT acting undersecretary for services and regional operations.

A former assistant secretary and director of the DOT’s Office of Tourism Standards, the appointment of Jasmin is seen to strongly support the DOT’s promotional efforts in attaining its year-end target of 3.3 million visitors this year.

Valte also announced the appointment of LBP board directors Victor Gerardo Bulatao, representing the agrarian reform beneficiaries and Domingo Diaz, representing the private sector.

As a catalyst in countryside development and poverty alleviation, LBP is the country’s largest credit institution in the rural areas that has been expanding its agribusiness and livelihood loan portfolio for priority sectors particularly to farmers and fishermen, small and medium enterprises and micro enter­prises.