Duterte eyes 2009 CNN Hero of the Year as new PCUP chief

DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is eyeing teacher Efren Peñaflorida and Davao-based teacher Randy Halasan to sit as new commissioners of the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor (PCUP).

Duterte made the announcement before the media here Friday night. The President mentioned that he would want "yungnagtutulak ng karomata" (the one known for pushing carts) to chair the PCUP.

Duterte was referring to Peñaflorida who was named CNN Hero of the Year in 2009 for his efforts to bring education to poor children through a pushcart.

Peñaflorida was also conferred with the Order of Lakandula, the highest honors given to a civilian, by former President Gloria Arroyo.

Meanwhile, Halasan, a teacher of Pegalongan Elementary School here is also being considered as among the PCUP commissioners. Halasan won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2014 for his dedication to help with the education and livelihood of the Matigsalug community in SitioPegalongan, Barangay Malamba in Marilog district.

Duterte on Tuesday, December 12 fired the commissioners of the PCUP, an agency supervised by the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, including its head Terry Ridon.

He said Ridon has traveled abroad several times since his appointment in September.

"There's something wrong with this office, there was never a hearing en banc, or whatever, no major reports, no nothing," Duterte added.

Ridon, however, said all their travels were authorized by the Palace.

"The public record of the agency can speak for itself: we had implemented with full integrity the presidential promise of no demolition without relocation. We had represented government and given voice to the urban poor in international conferences on public housing, poverty alleviation and climate change, which was unprecedented in any administration," Ridon said.