Noy appoints relatives of Tupas

MANILA, Philippines - It’s all in the family.

President Aquino has appointed the father and a brother of Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., the lead prosecutor in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, to government posts while his sister has been designated board member of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Information provided by Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda showed that former Iloilo governor Niel Tupas Sr. has been designated executive director of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC).

The congressman’s brother, Raul, was appointed by Aquino as director III of the Department of Agriculture in September 2011.

Lacierda, however, clarified that Tupas’ sister, Nielette Tupas-Balleza, was not a presidential appointee since she was appointed by the PCSO Board in May last year.

But sources said that one cannot be designated as member of the PCSO Board without any clearance from Malacanang. Lacierda disclosed that Balleza is a “national consultant” at the PCSO.

On Monday, the fathers of two members of the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Corona were appointed by Aquino to two separate government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). 

‘Rewards’

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay questioned yesterday the timing and wisdom of the President’s appointment of former senator Wigberto Tañada, father of Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, and former councilor Jorge Banal Sr., father of incumbent Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal.

“The appointments may be part of the rewards for the congressmen’s support to the impeachment of the Chief Justice,” Magsaysay said.

“The timing is suspect, because just as the prosecution has rested their case against the Chief Justice as if to say ‘Mission Accomplished,’ here comes the President appointing their fathers to positions as if giving them a pat on the back,” she said.

“And if so, then what type of rewards are we expecting for the rest of the prosecution panel who ‘did good’ in the eyes of the President?” she added.

Tañada was appointed as chairman and member of the board of directors of the UCPB-CIIF Oil Mills Group while Banal Sr. was designated as acting member of the board of the Poro Point Management Corp.

 “I am not discounting the credentials of the senior Tanada and Banal, but I feel as if the President’s action in making these appointments as of this time does them a disservice because they are being used as tools to prove that he can do whatever he wants because he has all the power to reward his loyal allies and punish those who oppose him such as Chief Justice Corona,” Magsaysay stressed.

The younger Tañada and Banal Jr. lamented the statements of their colleague and stressed that the appointment of their fathers had nothing to do to with their being members of the prosecution panel.

The congressmen said their fathers were nominated to their respective posts in August last year and actually started working around October.

Tañada said it just so happened the oath-taking ceremonies took place on Monday.

“I respect Mitos’ (Magsaysay) suspicions but the appointment of my father came long before the House impeached the Chief Justice,” Banal said in a telephone interview.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) welcomed the assumption of Tañada as chairman of CIIF Oil Mills Group.

Lawyer Maita Chan-Gonzaga, PCGG commissioner-in-charge for research and development, said the PCGG lauded the move of the President in appointing the former senator to the post when it was announced way back last August.

“Ka Bobby’s appointment to the CIIF Boards (last August 2011) was widely hailed then and remains lauded now due to his unimpeachable character and integrity,” Gonzaga said.

“It is unfortunate that his belated ceremonial oathtaking yesterday was given a political color, notwithstanding the fact that he has been at the forefront of this battle in behalf of our country’s coconut farmers long before his appointment last year,” Gonzaga added. – With Paolo Romero, Rainier Allan Ronda