Diño to take over as SBMA chairman

Former Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman Martin Diño will take over as new chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Monday, October 3.

His appointment letter dated September 23, 2016 dated appointment and signed by President Rodrigo Duterte states, “Pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, you are hereby appointed Chairman, Board of Directors, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, for a term expiring on 30 June 2022.”

He will take over the helm from SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia. Diño, former barangay (village) under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in October 2015 for President in the 2016 synchronized elections but withdrew at the last minute and nominated Duterte as substitute standard-bearer of PDP-Laban.

He is also the father of Liza Diño, head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

The new freeport chief, according to a source at

A transition team from Diño’s camp arrived in the outgoing administration on SMBA operations and programs.

The names of Diño and Marvin Ted Macapagal the top positions in the SBMA.

Macapagal, rumored to be the next administrator and CEO of SBMA, is yet to receive his appointment papers.

Mike Macapagal, PDP-Laban Zambales president and brother of Marvin Ted, in a text message to TheManilaTimes, congratulated Diño on his appointment as SBMA chairman.