2 more Arroyo appointments announced amid controversy

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Libran Cabactulan has been designated as the country’s new ambassador to the United Nations replacing Hilario Davide Jr., who resigned to help his son, Hilario III, to campaign for a mayoralty post in Cebu province. Malacañang made the announcement amid the controversy regarding President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s recent appointments, which her critics said were in violation of a constitutional provision disallowing an incumbent president from making appointments 60 days before elections and the days after. Aside from Cabactulan’s, the Palace also announced the appointment of be-medalled swimmer and former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) head Eric Buhain as executive director of the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Buhain is the son-in-law of former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita as he is the husband of Batangas Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain. Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza said all of President Arroyo’s recent appointments were legal and made before March 10 when the ban on the so-called midnight appointments took effect. He said it was only the announcements that came late. He said the public should “see through the political noise" that is being used by politicians during the campaign season. “We understand that replacements and new appointments can be disturbing to the organizations involved, such reorganizations can affect private companies just as much as government offices," he said. The controversy erupted following the appointment of, among otheres, business tycoon Alfonso Yuchengco as Philippine Ambassador to Germany replacing Delia Albert. - KBK, GMANews.TV