Aquino swears in over 40 officials, including AFP chief

(Updated 10:05 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III on Monday swore in over 40 new officials of his administration, including high-ranking officials of government -owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and military officers. Among those who took their oaths were Philippine Commission on Women acting executive director Emmeline Verzosa, who retained her post; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority deputy chairman Alex Ramon Cabanilla; Climate Change Commission vice chairperson Lucille Sering; and Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns Magdangal Elma. Lito Mondragon was sworn in as president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Mining Development Corporation, while Froilan Tampinco was retained as president and CEO of the National Power Corporation. Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David Jr. and 20 other military officers also took their oaths before Aquino. These were Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr., Major Generals Jessie D. Dollosa, Rustico O. Guerrero, Ricardo C. Banayat, Gregrio E. Macapagal and Lauro Catalino G. Dela Cruz; Brigadier Generals Ernesto R. Aradanas, Romeo V. Calizo, Essel D. Soriano, Nestor A. Anonuevo, Benito Antonio T. De Leon, Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz, Neal P. Gacrama, Eldon Luis G. Nemenzo, Rosalindo C. Acacio, Fred M. Payawan, Edwin Manuel F. Remotigue, Raul L. Dimatatac, Romeo T. Tanalgo, and Commodore Jaime S. Bernardino as commander of the Joint Task Force Malampaya. Other new officials who took their oaths of office were the following: - Department of Budget and Management Assistant Secretary Luz Cantor - Department of Budget and Management Assistant Secretary Amelita Castillo - Department of Health Acting Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan - National Kidney Transplant Institute executive director Aileen Alteros Riego Javier - NBN 4 chairman (representing the private sector) Virgilio Yuzon - Light Rail Transit Authority deputy administrator Lutgardo Navarro - Land Transportation Office acting executive director Redentor Reyes - National Conciliation and Mediation Board executive director IV Reynaldo Ubaldo - Department of Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit - Department of Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. - Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board commissioner and CEO Antonio Bernardo Alex Padilla, chairman of the government panel that will resume peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), also took his oath, along with panel members Pablito Sanidad Sr., Jurgette Honculada, and Ednar Dayanghirang. Panel member Lourdes Tison was absent at the ceremony. - Jam L. Sisante/KBK, GMANews.TV