PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has tapped former Social Security System (SSS) Commissioner Jose Gabriel La Viña as Tourism undersecretary, despite the latter's supposed involvement in corruption during his stint at the state-run social pension fund.

On Wednesday, April 25, Malacañang released La Viña's appointment paper signed by Duterte on Tuesday, April 24.

It could be recalled that in February, La Viña was directed by Duterte to immediately vacate his post since the former was serving in a hold-over capacity. La Viña's term expired on June 30, 2017.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. had said the President did not renew La Viña's term of office because of his demands for multi-million peso projects and vilification campaign against four SSS executives.

La Viña is the cousin of Peter La Viña, who was also fired by Duterte in March 2017 as administrator of the National Irrigation Authority because of alleged corruption.

The two were both part of Duterte's communication team for his 2016 presidential campaign.

When sought for comment, Roque said La Viña's appointment as undersecretary of Tourism department was a "presidential prerogative."

Apart from La Viña, the President also named former National Press Club president Benny Antiporda as Environment undersecretary.

Antiporda, before being appointed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was a board member of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Duterte also picked Rosario Sagadal and Agnes de Grano as commissioners of the National Labor Relations Commission, a quasi-judicial body tasked to promote and maintain industrial peace by resolving labor and management disputes. (SunStar Philippines)