Author Topic: Estrada picks ex-judge as PCGG chairman  (Read 565 times)

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Estrada picks ex-judge as PCGG chairman
« on: February 25, 2017, 06:57:27 PM »
Estrada picks ex-judge as PCGG chairman
By Raymond Burgos, June 1, 1998 - Philippine Daily Inquirer

PRESIDENT-ELECT Joseph Estrada yesterday announced the appointment of a former judge of the Makati Regional Trial Court as chair of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

Judge Felix de Guzman will take over the reins of the PCGG from outgoing Chair Magtanggol Gunigundo until the commission is eventually abolished, Estrada said.

Estrada earlier pledged to abolish the PCGG which, he said, had outlived its usefulness. In most cases, he had said, the commission had failed to recover the so-called ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies.

Yesterday, however, Estrada said the PCGG could not be abolished immediately because of an existing law which mandated its creation.

``I will allow the PCGG to wrap up all its unfinished work before it gets abolished and its functions transferred to the Department of Justice,'' he told the Inquirer.

Estrada also announced the appointment of Eduardo Escueta as chair of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Escueta was lawyer of businessman Eduardo ``Danding'' Cojuangco, godfather of Estrada's Nationalist People's Coalition, during the canvassing of votes in the 1992 presidential contest.

He also served as chief of staff of Sen. Edgardo Angara, Estrada's defeated running mate in the May 11 polls.

Estrada said he was retaining Alice Reyes as chair of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., one of the government's top revenue earners.

``I am fully satisfied with the performance of Pagcor under Ms Reyes, that's why I am retaining her to continue with her good work,'' Estrada said.

Ramos boys retained

Last week, Estrada announced the retention of Science and Technology Secretary William Padolina, Solicitor General Romeo de la Cruz and National Bureau of Investigation Director Santiago Toledo.

He is also bringing back Leonora Vasquez-de Jesus as chief of the Presidential Management Staff, a position which she held under the Aquino and Ramos administrations.

Estrada also announced the appointment of Carlos ``Butch'' Tuazon as chair of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Tuazon, a known gun enthusiast and practical shooter, is president of Squires Bingham Arms Inc. and the Philippine Shooters Association.

Nicolas Alonzo is being appointed chair of the Sugar Regulatory Commission.

AFP appointment

On the appointment of the next Armed Forces chief of staff, Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ismael Z. Villareal yesterday voiced optimism that Estrada would respect the military tradition of merit and seniority in making the choice.

``I would recommend that the presidency follow the system of promoting officers through merit and seniority. After all, the military has always been loyal to the presidency,'' said Villareal, the second highest in command of the AFP.

Villareal, the most senior in the AFP, was reacting to reports that Estrada favored Lt. Gen. Joselin Nazareno, chief of the Southern Command, as the successor of outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Clemente Mariano.

A top adviser of Estrada earlier said a number of military officers were objecting to the reported appointment of Nazareno on account of his having actively campaigned for Estrada.

This, the adviser said, was in violation of the law mandating the military and the police to be non-partisan during elections.

Villareal said he had not heard of such grumblings against Nazareno but said he had heard Chief Supt. Panfilo Lacson was ``actively moving'' for Nazareno.

Lacson himself was reportedly targeting the top post of the Philippine National Police. But Estrada ruled out the appointment of his former Task Force Habagat chief who, along with 97 other officers, were implicated in the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case.

Officers' pool

Villareal said aside from the military tradition of merit and seniority, the law allowed the President to choose from among the pool of senior military officers. There are 80 lieutenant, major and brigadier generals Estrada can choose from in the current roster of the AFP.

``If the President elects to exercise this executive preference, everybody (in the military) should respect that,'' Villareal said.

Villareal acknowledged he was interested in the position, saying he was the most senior.

``Since I am the number two in command, I think I'm qualified to handle the job without need for any transition,'' Villareal said.

Villareal, who chairs the AFP modernization program board, said the military's top priority should still be internal defense while also focusing on its social, political, administrative, developmental and tactical role.

``We have to go back to the mission of the military, which is to protect the people and its institutions,'' Villareal said.

MILF backs Nazareno

In Digos, Davao del Sur, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front threw its support behind Nazareno, saying his appointment would hasten the peace process which the government is undertaking with the rebel group.

``He was involved from the very beginning of the peace negotiations and now that he is to become the next AFP chief, the MILF believes that he could do a lot in speeding the resolution of the decades-old conflict in Mindanao,'' said Al Haj Murad, MILF vice chair for military affairs.

Murad said past AFP chiefs of staff were not able to deal successfully with his group, and this nearly resulted in the collapse of the talks.

``But with Lieutenant General Nazareno, we are confident that whatever probable conflict could be addressed in the most peaceful manner because he is one of the few military commanders who want to resolve the Mindanao conflict without the use of force and violence,'' Murad said.

Murad said under Nazareno's term as Southcom chief, the number of clashes between the military and MILF rebels was greatly reduced.

Nazareno was commander of the 203rd Brigade based in Maguindanao before he was named as Southcom chief. He is known as the only military commander who can go inside MILF territory without being harmed. With reports from Juliet Labog-Javellana and Allan A. Nawal, PDI Mindanao Bureau

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