Ex-Napoles lawyer appointed to BIR

Malacañang on Thursday announced that President Rodrigo Duterte had appointed lawyer Lanee David to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

David was appointed BIR deputy commissioner together with tax lawyer Jesus Clint Aranas.

David, a former lawyer of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, has handled cases of the latter’s family at the Sandiganbayan.

The President also named musician and businessman Ramon “RJ” Jacinto as presidential adviser on economic affairs and information technology communications.

Malacañang said Jacinto would have the rank of undersecretary.

Jacinto, president of JacintoColor Steel Inc. and founder rock-and-roll radio station dzRJ, is a staunch supporter of the President, even composing a song for Duterte during the campaign period.

The President also named Gen. Arthur Tabaquero presidential adviser on military affairs and Raymundo de Vera Elefante undersecretary for finance, ammunitions, installations and materials of the Department of National Defense, while Gamaliel Cordova was reappointed commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission./rga