PCO, DA get new execs
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appointed three new undersecretaries and three directors to the revamped Presidential Communications Office.
The new officials took their oath of office before the President in Malacañang Palace on Thursday.
Honey Rose Mercado will serve as undersecretary for Traditional Media and External Affairs. She is formerly an undersecretary at the Presidential Management Staff.
Mercado will be assisted by five assistant secretaries who would oversee print, radio, television, external affairs, and media accreditation and relations.
Also appointed was Franz Gerard Imperial as undersecretary for Broadcast Production, a position previously held by former ABS-CBN reporter Ina Reformina.
Gerald Baria will serve as undersecretary for Content Production while Patricia Magistrado will be assistant secretary for external affairs.
Ma. Rhona Ysabel Daoang, Marvin Antonio and Lois Erika Mendoza were named directors for traditional media, digital media, and content production, respectively.
The appointments came days after the President signed Executive Order 16, which reorganized the PCO to link it with Paul Soriano, the Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications.
Retained
Emerald Ridao and Cherbett Karen Maralit retained their posts as undersecretaries for digital media, and operations, administration and finance, respectively.
The EO effectively dissolved two offices under PCO: Media accreditation and relations and special concerns — previously led by Greggy Eugenio and former newspaperman Marlon Purificacion, respectively.
Under the revamped PCO, there will be 14 assistant secretaries, with one assistant secretary who will directly report to the PCO chief.
Malacañang also bared new appointees at the Department of Agriculture and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The PCO released on Wednesday the names of the new set of officials appointed by the President.
Paz Benavidez II was designated as an assistant secretary of the DA, an agency concurrently led by Marcos.
Other DA appointees are Honorio Flameño, Fernando Flores, Maria Christine Inting, Roland Tulay who will be holding the Director IV rank, and Reynaldo Campomanes who will serve as Director III.
AFP, too
The President named at least 26 military officials at various units of the AFP.
He designated Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II as commander of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division; Maj. Gen. Ramon Guiang as vice commander of the PA; Brig. Gen. Pedro Balisi Jr. as assistant division commander of the PA’s Armor Division; Brig. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante as commander of the PA’s Training and Command; and Brig. Gen. Marion R. Sison as division commander of the PA’s 3rd Infantry Division.
Brig. Gen. Rommel Tello was appointed as the PA’s Inspector General, Col. Erwin Alea as commander of the PA’s 201st Infantry Brigade, Col. Peter Burgonio as commander of the PA’s Army Intelligence Regimen, Col. Maynard Camarao as commander of the PA’s 53rd Engineer Brigade, and Col. Ferdinand Melchor de la Cruz as commander of the PA’s 501st Infantry Brigade.
Included in the list are Col. Eugene Mata who is appointed as commander of PA’s 502nd Infantry Brigade; Col. Arnel Jose Morada as commander of PA’s 803rd Infantry Brigade, and Col. Michael Samson as the commander of PA’s 301st Infantry Brigade.
Brig. Gen. Teofilo Bailon Jr. will serve as the Philippine Air Forces’ Inspector General, Brig. Gen. Ronie Petinglay as wing commander of PAF’s 580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing, while Brig. Gen. Elpidio Talja as commander of PAF’s Air Force Reserve Command.
Col. Aldrin Annani was appointed as wing commander of PAF’s 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, Col. Juliano Llarenas as wing commander of PAF’s 15th Strike Wing, and Rey Bes as wing commander of PAF’s 355th Aviation Engineer Wing.
Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg will serve as commander of the Philippine Navy’s Naval Installation Command, Commodore Joe Anthony Orbe as commander of PN’s Naval Forces Southern Luzon, Commodore Alfonspin Tumanda Jr. as commander of PN’s Naval Installation Command, and Rear Admiral Rommel Labrador as deputy commander of PN’s Naval Sea Systems Command.
Also named were Col. Antonio Mangoroban Jr. as commander of PN’s 3rd Marine Brigade and Col. Amado de la Paz as deputy commander of the AFP’s Western Command.