Palace bares new appointments
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has announced new appointments to some of the remaining vacancies in the government, including three undersecretaries at the Office of the President (OP) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
The Presidential Communications Office announced on its social media pages the appointment of Abraham Purugganan as undersecretary at the OP.
Purugganan, a retired Army major, former rebel soldier, and congressional candidate, served as deputy presidential adviser for special concerns during the Arroyo administration.
Also appointed as DHSUD undersecretaries were lawyer Randy Escolango, who previously served as labor department undersecretary, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority deputy administrator for legal affairs, and Insurance Commission deputy commissioner; and engineer Emmanuel Pineda, a former official at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Bataan Freeport Area Authority.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also nominated incumbent Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe Jones Lhuillier to a new tour of duty. The envoy’s nomination was forwarded to the Commission on Appointments on July 17.
Following are some of the other appointees:
- Jose Policarpio Jr. as acting president and chief executive officer of Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp.
- Julius Neri Jr. as acting general manager and CEO of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority
- Jason Alba and Kristjan Vicente Gargantiel as assistant secretaries of the Office of the Senior Deputy Executive Secretary
- Noralene Uy as assistant secretary of the environment department
- businessmen George Barcelon and Jose Concepcion III as members of the Asean Business Advisory Council
- Ma. Flordeliza Cusi-Leong as a board member of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, representing the employer/industry organizations
- Rowena Macalintal as deputy director of the National Authority for Child Care
- Sherwin Bugarin as a member of the Games and Amusement Board
Several department directors were also appointed.
