Noy won't renew scolded NIA chief

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday announced that he is no longer renewing the appointment of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) chief Antonio Nangel.

Aquino confirmed that he is kicking out Nangel from the Cabinet during an ambush interview at the Philippine National Police's headquarters in Camp Crame, where he led the distribution of more than 20,000 new service firearms to policemen.

Nangel's appointment expired last June 30.

Speaking as NIA's guest of honor in its anniversary last June 25, Aquino expressed his dismay over the agency's failure to meet its targets.

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The president said that he will not place Nangel in any government post due to the agency's budget and performance discrepancies.

He added that it was "unacceptable" that NIA has only been achieving 60 percent of its targets.

Aquino said that he has ordered an investigation into the agency's lackluster performance since 2001.

He said that the agency's faults have recently been highlighted by a board meeting and a subsequent report by the Department of Budget and Management.

Aquino appointed Nangel for at least a year from June 2012 to June 2013 after he served as NIA acting administrator from September 2010.