RAM founder is new Palace appointee

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed to office one of the founders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement responsible for the coup attempts during the term of his late mother Corazon Aquino.

Named as assistant secretary under the Office of the President was former police colonel Victor Batac, a classmate of opposition Sen. Gregorio Honasan and former senator and now rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson in the Philippine Military Academy Matatag Class of 1971.

Also yesterday, Aquino appointed Rafael Seguis as undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns under the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Others appointed were Ramon Rañeses as director III under the National Police Commission; Angeline Chua-Chiaco, commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission; Benjamin Magbanua, acting director III of the Industrial Technology Development Institute under the Department of Science and Technology;

Josette Biyo, acting director IV of the Science Education Institute of the DOST; Edilberto de Jesus, member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Reclamation Authority; and Delia Hernandez, acting executive director III of the National Council for Children’s Television under the Department of Education.