By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte has appointed a new batch of government officials including former Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) acting president Roy Ferrer as Health Assistant Secretary and Rolando Enrique Domingo as Director General of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ALFRED FRIAS / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The appointment papers of Ferrer and Domingo were signed by the President on February 6 and released by the Palace yesterday.
The President asked Ferrer, along with other PhilHealth Board members, to resign in June 2019 following the alleged fraudulent claims for kidney treatments. Duterte remained confident about the integrity of Ferrer despite the controversy.
Domingo, on the other hand, served as officer-in-charge of the FDA following the dismissal of FDA head Nela Charade Puno last year.
The appointment of Puno was terminated after the President reportedly received complaints about alleged wrongdoing in the agency.
Duterte, back in May 2019, said he did not know the agency was considered a "gold mine” for the corrupt.
Also appointed by the President are retired Air Force chief Rozzano Briguez as member of the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation Board, former IBC-13 president Katherine de Castro as member of the People's Television Netowrk Inc. Board.; Trade Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Director General of Intellectual Property Office, and lawyer Lorna Kapunan as member of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Board.
Two new ambassadors were likewise appointed by the President : Imelda Panolong as Philippine Ambassador to Oman and Mohd. Noordin Pendosina Lomondot as Ambassador to Kuwait.
The President also formalized the appointments of retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin as member of Government Service Insurance System Board; Giovanni Carlo Bacardo, Flag Officer-In-Command of the Philippine Navy; and Joel Joseph Marciano, ad interim Director General of the Philippine Space Agency.
The other appointees are Eduardo Bringas, Deputy Director General of Anti-Red Tape Authority; Victor Balba, Assistant General Manager, National Housing Authority; Sally Lopez, member of the National Council for Children's Television Board; Leo Hernandez, member of Philippine Mining Development Corp. Board; Rolando Manalo, member Philippine Mining Development Corp., Board; Rachel Esther Remalante, Director III of Securities and Exchange Commission; Maureen Padilla, member of National Book Development Board; Desideria Atienza, executive director III, National Council for Children's Television; Rose Ann Espiritu, Director III of Securities and Exchange Commission; Lisa Nakpil, member of National Museum of the Philippines Board; Judy Calimutan, member of Philippine Commission on Women; Rosalie Paje, Director III of Department of Health; Jonathan Ponce, member Clark International Airport Corp. Board; and Gary Sta. Ana, member of Corregidor Foundation Inc. Board.
New judges, education officials, and other government executives are also included in the list of new appointees.