Abaya, Cacdac sworn into office

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III administered Thursday the oath of office to Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Arturo Cacdac in a ceremony in Malacanang.

Abaya replaced Secretary Manuel Roxas II in the Department of Transportation and Communication after Aquino appointed Roxas to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Cacdac, meanwhile, assumed the post of Jose Gutierrez Jr., who apparently resigned from his post amid anomalies involving his wife and allegations of extortion from an alleged drug lord.

Abaya finished his elementary education at the De La Salle University (DLSU) in 1979. He was a consistent honor student during his secondary school years in Philippine Science High School (PSHS).

He topped the entrance examination for the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and was sent by the government to the US Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, USA where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1988.

Abaya proceeded to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA and completed his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1989.

He also studied law and received his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), School of Law in 2005 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2007.

Cacdac, on the other hand, served as police deputy director general for administration prior to his retirement. He is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Makatarungan" Class of 1978.

He was the chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in 1996. Cacdac was among the recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)