Sotto daughter to head MTRCB; more Marcos picks take oath

Diorella Sotto-Antonio

As his administration turned a week old, President Marcos on Thursday administered the oath of office to a few more key appointees.

They included Diorella Sotto-Antonio, the daughter of former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who was sworn in as chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Sotto-Antonio is succeeding lawyer Jeremiah Jaro in the MTCRB post.

Three-term councilor

Sotto-Antonio was a three-term councilor of Quezon City’s fourth district and a three-term councilor of the city’s third district.She finished her studies at the Dela Salle University College of St. Benilde, where she earned a degree in consular diplomatic affairs.

Also taking their oath at Malacañang were Bianca Cristina Cardenas Zobel as social secretary; Honey Rose Mercado as undersecretary of the Presidential Management Staff; Franz Imperial as undersecretary of the Office of the President; Gerald Baria as undersecretary of the Office of the President; and Emerald Ridao as Undersecretary of the Office of the Press Secretary.

Former Solicitor General Jose Calida, whom Marcos had picked to chair the Commission on Audit, and Cesar Chavez, who will be serving as undersecretary of the Department of Transportation, also took their oath before the President.

Former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who like Calida served under former President Rodrigo Duterte, was sworn in as the new chair of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Also on Thursday, President Marcos held a meeting with energy department officials, details of which had yet to be disclosed by Malacañang at press time.

The President has yet to name his secretaries for the following departments: energy, health, environment, science and technology, and human settlements.