Duterte’s new appointees bared

President Duterte has named Mudjib Abu as a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the post previously held by Moro Islamic Liberation Front vice chair, Ghazali Jaafar, who passed away in March this year. Mr. Duterte also appointed Fernando Borja, the former special envoy to China, as the new special presidential envoy to Japan for business and investment promotion for six months. Almarim Tillah’s appointment as the special presidental envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was also renewed for another term, from Jan. 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2019. The President also named pastor Grepor Belgica as the new presidential adviser for religious affairs, with a compensation of P1 a year. A former murder convict whowas pardoned by authoritarian President Ferdinand Marcos in 1976, Belgica became a preacher after his release from prison. His son, Greco Belgica, is a commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission. Mr. Duterte also signed the appointments of Jose Sylton Solidum as assistant Cabinet secretary; Datu Mama Sinsuat Jr. as director 4 of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos; Rolyn Zambales as director 4 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; Judith Iris Kaye Pagsanjan as director 3 of the Department of Transportation; Teresita Mata-Marañon as board member of the Coconut Industry Investment Fund Oil Mills Group; Leonor Cabral-Lim as member of the Philippine Council for Mental Health representing the academe and research, and Celerino Umandap as member of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration board of trustees representing landbased overseas Filipino workers.