Duterte names legislative assistant as adviser for political affairs

Newly appointed presidential adviser for political affairs, Secretary Jacinto “Jing” Paras. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A day after saying that he is giving a serious thought to running for vice president in the 2022 elections, President Rodrigo Duterte named former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras his adviser for political affairs.

Paras, who is currently the presidential assistant under the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO), shared to media a portion of his appointment papers, although Malacañang has yet to release official copy of the documents.

He was, however, present during Thursday’s Palace briefing and was introduced by presidential spokesman Harry Roque as the “newly-appointed adviser for political affairs.”

During the briefing, which was his first appearance as adviser for political affairs, Paras devoted airtime to lambast staunch administration critic former Senator Trillanes IV, calling the former lawmaker as a “nobody.”

During the briefing, which was his first appearance as adviser for political affairs, Paras devoted airtime to lambast staunch administration critic former Senator Trillanes IV, calling the former lawmaker as a “nobody” and a “non-entity.”

“Nakatsamba lang naman itong tao na ito na naging senador dahil at that time, the opposition was gaining ground; pero under normal circumstances, baka magiging kulelat iyan parati,” he said.

Paras further blasted Trillanes for accusing Duterte and his former long-time aide now senator Bong Go of plundering P6 billion, saying that the former lawmaker is the “most corrupt senator that ever lived in this country.”

The newly minted political adviser said that Trillanes’ allegations have no basis.

“Kung nag-aakusa na naman siya sa ating Pangulo at saka kay Senator Bong Go, huwag nating tuunan ng pansin,” Paras said.

A political adviser has the rank of a Secretary and sits on the Cabinet. Its function is to coordinate the legislative and political coalition liaising and constituency building efforts of the Office of the President.
It can be noted that a presidential adviser is under salary grade 31, which is equivalent to a salary of a whopping 268,000 per month.

Aside from being a three-term congressman, Paras also served as former mayor in his province, before he was tapped as undersecretary at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

A reported rift with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, however marred his DOLE stint, but the two have brushed aside the allegations.

In March 2018, he figured in a “phone snatching” incident after he allegedly took the cellphone of then-Akbayan Party-list Representative Tom Villarin during a House labor committee hearing at the House of Representatives.

A political adviser has the rank of a Secretary and sits on the Cabinet. Its function is to coordinate the legislative and political coalition liaising and constituency building efforts of the Office of the President.

It can be noted that a presidential adviser is under salary grade 31, which is equivalent to a salary of a whopping 268,000 per month.

Aside from being a three-term congressman, Paras also served as former mayor in his province, before he was tapped as undersecretary at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

A reported rift with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, however marred his DOLE stint, but the two have brushed aside the allegations.

In March 2018, he figured in a “phone snatching” incident after he allegedly took the cellphone of then-Akbayan Party-list Representative Tom Villarin during a House labor committee hearing at the House of Representatives.

EDV