S AT U R D AY : J U LY 2 , 2 0 1 6
A3
NEWS
editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Duterte appoints three more PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday announced the appointments of Rodolfo Salalima as secretary of the newly created Department of Information and Communications Technology, Angelito Banayo as chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, and Liza Masa as head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission. “An information technology expert, an activist advocating the rights of the poor, and a long-time government servant are among the experts in their respective fields who have joined my Cabinet,” Duterte said. Salalima was a former executive of Globe Telecom Inc. who served as the company’s chief legal counsel and senior vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs until his retirement in 2008. Salalima graduated magna cum laude in AB Philosophy and cum laude in Bachelor of Laws from San Beda College. He has over 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, including stints in Bayan Telecommunications Inc. and Radio Communications of the Philippines Inc. Banayo is a veteran in the government service, having served as postmaster gen-
SALALIMA
MASA
BANAYO
eral, Philippine Tourism Authority administrator, and National Food Authority administrator. He was instrumental in the creation of the Philippine Postal Corp. and instituted reforms aimed at reducing employee pilferage. He initiated the probe into the corruption in the postal service and the oneway mirrors at the Manila International Airport Distribution Center. He grew up in Butuan City in Agusan del Norte, where his family had moved in
the 1960s. Later, he studied economics at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manila, and then went on to the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and the University of the Philippines College of Public Administration. He will now head Meco, the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan, functioning as a de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations. Masa is the former Gabriela Party-list representative in the House of Representatives.
She is a staunch advocate of the protection of the welfare of the poor and marginalized. As a legislator, she authored 53 bills and 120 resolutions in the 13th and 14th Congresses. As co-author, her initiatives which were passed into law include the Rent Control Act of 2009, Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, Magna Carta for Women, Philippine Nursing Act, Anti-Torture Law, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, and Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act. PNA
Cabinet officials can serve until July 31 THE officials co-terminus with the previous administration have only until July 31 to serve in the Cabinet, President Rodrigo Duterte said in his first memorandum issued Thursday night. The memo was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who said
July 31 was the last day for the previous administrations’ officials to serve unless “their appointments are sooner revoked, resignations accepted, replacements appointed or reappointed.” “Officials whose positions have become
functus officio are hereby directed to... turn over of their records and documents, both hard and e-copies, to their successors and/ or the highest career official/personnel in their respective agencies,” the memorandum read. John Paolo Bencito
Giveaway. President Rodrigo Duterte and Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo handed over bags of fruit during their solidarity dinner with the poor residents of Tondo, Manila, on Thursday night. DANNY PATA
Marcos says he believes in Digong THERE is no doubt that President Rodrigo Duterte can steer the Philippines toward real change that will be felt by all sectors especially the underprivileged, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday. He said Duterte has the courage, compassion and dedication to lead the country toward progress. Marcos was among those who witnessed Duterte’s oathtaking as 16th President of the Philippines in Malacañang, where Vice President Leni Robredo was not invited. Marcos filed an election protest with the Supreme Court against Robredo on June 29, or a day before she took her oath as the country’s 14th vice president. Marcos said the tough-talking Duterte means a lot of things to many people. “A father, a son, a brother, a tough mayor and now President,” Marcos said. “But to me, he will always be a very good friend. A man who stays true, a man of integrity, a man of extreme loyalty.” Duterte had refused to give Robredo a Cabinet post, saying he didn’t want to hurt Marcos, who claims there was massive cheating in the last elections to deprive him of the vice presidency. “He will always have my support and I am one with every Filipino in this feeling of excitement as we welcome a new era in our country’s history,” Marcos said. Senator JV Ejercito said Duterte clearly laid down the direction of his administration through his inaugural speech, which he described as “simple and easy to understand but loaded with substance.” Senator Panfilo Lacson commended Duterte for drawing a clear line between Congress and the Executive. He considered it good when Duterte made it clear he would not interfere in Congress. “Of course, it goes without saying that congressional oversight is part and parcel of our duties. It’s also good to hear that he knows he needs the support of every Filipino and that much he said at the start of his inaugural address,” Lacson said. Macon Ramos-Araneta