Executive says Tolentino briefed on MMDA activities

MANILA, Philippines - Former Tagaytay City Mayor Francis Tolentino, rumored to be the next chief of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), has met with the agency’s senior executives and been briefed on the agency’s activities, an official said yesterday.

MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno told The Star that he and incumbent MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes have met with Tolentino and briefed him on matters affecting the agency after being informed that the former Tagaytay City mayor has already been appointed as the new MMDA chair.

“We are confident that he (Tolentino) will be the new MMDA chairman. We gave him the briefing to make sure that there will be a smooth transition of leadership in the agency,” Nacianceno said.

Nacianceno said Tolentino also wished to meet with the mayors of Metro Manila who comprise the Metro Manila Council, the policy-making body of the MMDA.

Although rumored to be the next MMDA chief, Tolentino’s appointment has yet to be officially announced by Malacañang.

Tolentino served as mayor of Tagaytay City for nine years, from 1994 to 2004. He served as officer-in-charge for one year. He was succeeded by his younger brother, incumbent Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

As mayor, Tolentino is credited for having developed Tagaytay City into a tourism and investment destination.

Inocentes earlier said he is not affected by the change in the administration and insisted that the position of the MMDA chairman is not co-terminus with that of the President.

Inocentes, a former Quezon City judge, was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to replace MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, who resigned to pursue his vice presidential bid in last May’s elections.

The MMDA is an agency under the supervision of the Office of the President and its chairman is vested with the rank, rights, privileges, disqualifications, and prohibitions of a Cabinet member.

Inocentes earlier said that he is ready to step down upon the announcement of his replacement by President Aquino.

Mr. Aquino said Friday that pending cases before the Office of the Ombudsman delayed the appointment of the next MMDA chief. He refused to name Tolentino but mentioned the candidate for the post was an “ex-mayor.”

“The background check revealed pending cases before the Ombudsman and the explanation has come to my office already and they seem to be in the nature of harassment,” Mr. Aquino said.

“For instance, he was a mayor previously and the charges were filed six years after he finished his terms. So we think he justly explained it completely so we will sign his appointment papers already,” he told reporters.