Aspirant who gave way to Duterte presidential bid to head SBMA

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT–Former presidential aspirant Martin Diño will sit as the new chairman and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority next week.

“[Diño] has informed me that he has been appointed chairman and administrator [of SBMA],” said outgoing SBMA Chair Roberto Garcia in a text message on Friday (Sept. 23).

Diño withdrew his candidacy for president last year and named Duterte, then a Davao City mayor, as his substitute standard bearer of PDP-Laban.

Garcia first announced the news during the flag-raising ceremony attended by SBMA employees on Monday (Sept. 19) in front of the SBMA administration building.

But Garcia said the appointment would remain unofficial pending the release of Diño’s appointment papers.

Diño, a former Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chair, met with Garcia and other SBMA officials on Thursday (Sept. 22).

Lawyer Randy Escolango, SBMA deputy administrator for legal affairs, said Diño sent a transition team to facilitate a smooth turnover of the SBMA leadership.

Escolango said, “Incoming SBMA Chair Diño’s appointment will be made official next week.”

Diño is the father of Liza Diño, who is now married to singer Cariza “Aiza” Seguerra.

Duterte recently appointed Seguerra as chairperson of National Youth Commission while the young Diño was appointed as chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. CDG/rga

RELATED STORIES
Martin Diño tells Duterte: Turn PH as safe as Davao City

Duterte supporters Aiza Seguerra, Liza Diño get gov’t seats