Oban is new head of VFA Commission

MANILA, Philippines - Former Armed Forces chief Eduardo Oban Jr. is now the executive director of the Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) following the resignation of retired Army general Edilberto Adan, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she did not know the reason why Adan resigned, adding they were only advised that Oban would be taking over the post.

“He will be no stranger to the material, or at least the issues that are being handled by the VFA Commission,” Valte said.

Oban was replaced by Edwin Lopez as undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Their appointments took effect on Feb.15.

Lopez was DOTC assistant secretary and served as chief of staff of then Cavite Rep. and now DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya from 2010 to 2012.

He was also a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy like Oban and Abaya, and former director for logistics at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Oban first served as chairman of the Clark Development Corp. following his retirement as AFP chief in December 2011.

Earlier reports said that Adan resigned on Jan. 16 as he was offered a high-paying job in the private sector.

Meanwhile, Valte said former Pampanga governor Mark Lapid was re-appointed as member of the board of directors of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

Also appointed were Jose Emmanuel Reverente, undersecretary of the Department of Finance; Lorenzo Formoso, chief operating officer of the Duty Free Philippines Corp. under the Department of Tourism; and Victorio Mario Dimagiba as undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.