Duterte appoints Mark Villar’s wife justice undersecretary

Diwa party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, has been given another hat to wear under the Duterte administration.

The caretaker representative of the congressional district vacated by her husband in Las Piñas City was designated justice undersecretary on Wednesday as part of a top-level revamp in the Department of Justice.

“She will give up [her congressional seats]. She has prepared for this,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

Guevarra said the President let go of three more of his fraternity brothers who held senior posts.

He said the President had accepted the courtesy resignation of Undersecretaries Raymund Mecate, Erickson Balmes and Reynante Orceo, while Juvy Manwong stepped down as assistant secretary, paving the way for the designation of Villar, Adrian Sugay, Markk Perete and Neal Vincent Bainto. —Marlon Ramos