Malacañang bares old, new faces in additional appointees

THE PALACE yesterday announced a slew of appointments to key agencies and offices as the Aquino administration entered its third week in office.

Jorge V. Sarmiento, former deputy commissioner of National Telecommunications Commission, was appointed president of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

His appointment was confirmed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. in a chance interview. He replaced Rafael Butch A. Francisco.

Thirteen other officials took their oath before President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.

Except for a few familiar names, the appointees are new faces to the government:

* Manuel G. Imperial, Toll Regulatory Board executive director, was retained in an acting capacity;
* Jose Vicente V. Salazar, was retained as Justice undersecretary;
* former Finance undersecretary Estela V. Sales is now deputy commissioner for legal and inspection group at the Bureau of Internal Revenue;
* Emerson M. Lorenzo of the Maritime Industry Authority-Shipyard Regulation Office replaced Angelo C. Verdan as administrator;
* lawyer Aristotle B. Batuhan, publicist Dante M. Velasco and investment banker Glicerio V. Sicat were sworn in as undersecretaries of the Department of Transportation and Communications;
* Ildefonso T. Patdu, Jr., who previously served as communication planning service director at the Department of Science and Technology, was appointed acting assistant secretary of the same department;
* at the Philippine Ports Authority, Juan C. Sta. Ana, former senior vice-president of F. F. Cruz & Co. and manager of the Port District of Manila, replaced former general manager Oscar M. Sevilla, while Raul T. Santos and engineer Tomas B. Carlos were appointed assistant general managers;
* Mabel V. Mamba has been appointed member of the Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office board; and
* Carmelo L. Arcilla is the new Civil Aeronautics Board executive director, replacing Tomas C. Mañalac. He was former deputy executive director.

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisma was appointed state representative to the Monetary Board, replacing Augusto B. Santos who reverted to his position as deputy director-general at the National Economic and Development Authority upon the appointment of Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr. as socioeconomic planning secretary. — A. M. G. Roa, Businessworld