Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2 execs to join outgoing defense chief in leaving department
AT LEAST two undersecretaries of the Department of National Defense (DND) are leaving government service with outgoing Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz whose irrevocable resignation takes effect on Thursday.
In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Cruz identified the two top defense officials as undersecretary for finance Cecilio Lorenzo and undersecretary for defense acquisition Jose Santos.
Lorenzo and Santos, who brought with them a wide management experience in the defense department, were appointed to their posts in January and February this year, respectively.
It was Lorenzo who recently recommended the abolition of the cash-strapped Retirement and Separation Benefits System (RSBS) after a financial study effective December 13. The recommendation was subsequently approved by Cruz.
Lorenzo acts as the DND's resource management manager, He earned his bachelor's degree on engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University and his master's degree on business management at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).
In his capacity as undersecretary for finance, Lorenzo also serves as member of the defense acquisition committee and the strengthened Bids and Awards Committee (BAC). He also supervises the construction of off-based housing for soldiers.
On the other hand, Santos studied economics also at the Ateneo de Manila. He earned his master's degree on business management at the AIM and finished an advance management program at the Wharton school at the University of Pennsylvania.
Santos, who also serves as member of the DND-BAC, brought with him at the department a wide management experience. Before he joined the DND, Santos served as vice president and head of commercial banking of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation.
Cruz said Santos and Lorenzo are leaving the department because they have "professional commitments". He said the two defense officials are preparing a transition mechanism to ensure to ensure a smooth turnover.
"What they are doing is they are preparing their way ahead. They are doing their way ahead. They are doing their transition mechanism so that their job can be passed on to those who would succeed them," said Cruz.
Cruz said undersecretary for plans, policy and special concern Antonio Santos, undersecretary for capability upgrade program Ariston delos Reyes and undersecretary for Philippine defense reform Ernesto Carolina are staying put.
At the Palace, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita confirmed receiving the resignation letters of Undersecretaries Santos, Lorenzo and of Cecilio Lorenzo.
A fourth undersecretary, Rodel Cruz, undersecretary for legal and priority concerns, had also reportedly resigned but Ermita did not mention him being part of the list that he had.
Ermita also confirmed the resignation of defense assistant secretary for internal audit Ricardo San Andres and assistant secretary for legal and priority concerns Aida Araceli Roxas-Rivera, and defense chief of staff Catherine Jennifer Gonzalez. San Andres filed his resignation letter on November 6 while Roxas-Rivera and Gonzalez submitted theirs on Nov. 15.
Ermita said the effectivity of the resignation of the officials are all on November 30, the same date that Cruz's resignation would also be effective.
Undersecretary Cruz, who is said to be closest to the resigned defense chief among the undersecretaries, earlier said he is also leaving the department.
He said he is staying put for a while for the transition. (VR/JMR/Sunnex)
