By Genalyn D. Kabiling
A former beauty queen is among the latest batch of government appointees of President Duterte.
The President has appointed Maria Margarita Moran Floirendo as member of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) board of trustees.
Floirendo, crowned Miss Universe in 1973, will serve the unexpired term of Danilo Dolor that started last July 1, 2017 and will end on June 30, 2018. Her appointment paper was signed last January 4.
Floirendo, estranged wife of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr., has served as president of Ballet Philippines.
Also, Malacañang released the ad interim appointment papers of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones. The appointment papers of the two acting Cabinet secretaries were signed last December 14 but released by the Palace on Friday.
Duque returned to his old post after he was named acting Health Secretary by the President last October 26. He took the place vacated by Paulyn Ubial, whose appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.
Castriociones, a former Interior and Local Government undersecretary, was appointed acting DAR secretary early December 1. He replaced Rafael Mariano who was also rejected by the powerful CA.
Malacañang also announced the appointments of several officials, including Marco Bautista as undersecretary of the Department of Tourism and Vinci Beltran as director IV of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
Also appointed were Nelson Laluces as deputy director general of the Intellectual Property Office with a term until Dec. 31, 2022 and Crisostomo Gotladera as member representing the private employees of the Home Development Mutual Fund board.
Other appointees are Maria Theresa Castaños, member representing private sector of the Food Terminal Inc. board; Eduardo Pelaez, member representing other tourism enterprises of the Tourism Promotions Board; Benjamin Magalong, member of the Philippine National Oil Company board; and Elizaldy Salcedo Co, member representing the accommodation enterprises of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority board.