President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. named former Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) lawyer Dennis Arvin Chan as the new chief state counsel of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The announcement was made through a post by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Friday, March 10.

The lawyer was a long-time partner at the Bernardo Placido Chan & Lasam (BPCL) Law Firm and was with the OSG as associate solicitor.

Chan began his legal career at the Fortun Narvasa & Salazar Law Offices, then moved to the Kalaw Sy Vida Selda & Campos Law Offices, where he handled election and intellectual property cases.

He is an expert in immigration, naturalization, labor, intellectual property, corporate compliance and governance, estate planning, and real estate.

Chan’s appointment was announced alongside 16 other officials to different offices and agencies.

The other appointees were as follow:

Noel Padre - Assistant Secretary, Department of Agriculture (DA)

Vener Dilig - Director III, DA

Remelyn Recoter - Director IV, Agriculture Training Institute of the DA

Antonieta Arceo - Director III, Agriculture Training Institute of the DA

Ma. Angela Ignacio - acting member of the Board of Directors, Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corp. (PNOC EC) of the Department of Energy (DOE)

Froilan Tampinco - acting member of the Board of Directors, PNOC EC of the DOE

Liza Alcera - Director III, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)

Eric Dollete - Director III, DMW

Maria Bernardine Madamba - Director III, DMW

Joshua Bingcang - acting president, chief executive officer, and board member, Clark International Airport Corp. of the Department of Transportation (DOTr)

Dante Francis Ang II - acting member of the Board of Directors, Clark International Airport Corp. of the DOTr

Monico Puentevella Jr. - acting member of the Board of Directors, Clark International Airport Corp. of the DOTr

Julius Raboca - acting member of the Board of Directors, Clark International Airport Corp. of the DOTr

Evelina Guevara-Escudero - member of the Board of Trustees representing the leading organizations or associations of government employees or retirees, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)

Jose Arnulfo Veloso - board member representing the banking, finance, investment, and insurance sectors, GSIS

Luzviminda Padayao - acting member of the Board of Directors, National Tobacco Administration (NTA)