MANILA -- President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Tuesday swore into office some 41 new officials of his administration in simple ceremonies in the Rizal Ceremonial Hall in Malacañang Palace.
Leading the list of new inductees were: Cayetano Paderanga Jr., director general of the National Economic Development Authority; Francisco Tolentino, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority; Angelito Banayo, administrator of the National Food Administration; and Macra Cruz, Office-in-Charge of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
Other officials who took their oaths of office before the Chief Executive were: Foreign Affairs undersecretary for migrant workers Esteban Conejos Jr.; Undersecretary for Administration Rafael Seguis; and Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio.
In the Department of Finance, those who took oath were Undersecretary John Philip Sevilla and Crisanta Legaspi, acting chief of the Privatization Office.
In Department of Education, the inductees were: Francisco Varela, Rizalino Rizera, Yolanda Quijano, Alberto Muyot – all undersecretaries and Reynaldo Laguda as assistant secretary.
In Department of National Defense, undersecretaries who took their oaths include: Honorio Azcueta, Samuel Bagasin, Pio Lorenzo Batino, and Ramon El Martinez Jr.
Also, Lamberto Sillona, Ernesto Boac, Fernando Manalo, Willie Palugod, and Raymund Quilop as assistant secretaries.
Jonathan Martir and Benito Ramos were appointed as Director IV while Patrick Velez and Nestor Castro were installed as Director III.
In the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, those who took oath were Dimacangcay Pundato as Undersecretary; Romulo Halabaso as assistant secretary; Mario Victor Leonen as Chairman of the Negotiating Panel for the Peace Talks with the MILF; Miriam Ferrer as Member of the Negotiating Panel for the Peace Talks with the MILF; and Senen Bacani, Member of the Negotiating Panel for the Peace Talks with the MILF.
In the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation also swore in were Jorge Sarmiento, Jose Tanjuatco, Eugene Manalastas, and Enriquito Nuguid as Member of the Board of Directors.
Other who met the President were Eulalio Diaz III as Land Registration Authority administrator; Simeon Marfori II as undersecretary of Department of Tourism; Emmanuel Joel Villanueva as director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Betty Nantes as member of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Board of Directors; and Cristina Villarica as Director IV of the Office of the Appointments Secretary, Office of the President. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)