Arroyo names AFP chief's brother as acting National Security Adviser

Among a recent flurry of appointments, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has promoted National Security Council director general Milo Ibrado as acting National Security Adviser, replacing Norberto Gonzales who was earlier appointed as acting secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND). Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who swore in Ibrado, clarified that Gonzales would remain National Security Adviser and acting Defense Chief. Ibrado, the older brother of Armed Forces chief of Staff Victor Ibrado, served as former undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. He also served as former deputy director general of the National Security Council. Aside from Ibrado, Mrs. Arroyo also appointed John Paolo Hizon as chairman and chief executive officer of the board of directors of the North Luzon Railways Corp., Wilfredo Milan as chairman of the board of the Radio Philippines Network (RPN9), and Eugene Mateo as chairman of the Board of Accountancy of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC). The President also named Apolonio Maleniza II as executive director of the National Youth Commission, Dennis Cunanan as director general and chief executive officer of the Technology Resource Center, Orkhan Usman as administrator of the National Dairy Authority, and Jose I.C. Laquian as deputy administrator of the Cotton Development Administration. - Aie Balagtas See/JV, GMANews.TV