PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed sacked Social Security System Commissioner Jose Gabriel La Viña as Tourism undersecretary and former tabloid reporter and National Press Club president Benny Antiporda as Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and promoted three police colonels to brigadier generals, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
The President also named Rosario Bernardo Sagadal and Agnes Alexis Lucero-de Grano as commissioners of the Department of Labor and Employment.
Their appointment papers were signed April 24, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
La Viña, a staunch ally of President Duterte and known as the social media manager of the President during the 2016 election, was named DoT undersecretary, barely three months after his appointment as SSS commissioner was not renewed by the President.
He was accused of demanding P26 million to fund his social media project and for asking a budget of P1.6 million per month for a media advertising program which was not granted, Roque said.
Antiporda was previously appointed director of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority last year.
Duterte also approved the promotions of three police colonels to brigadiers general.
They are former police Senior Superintendents Tyrone Villariza Masigon, Allan Tribiana Cuevillas and Petronelli Merecido Baldebrin.
Police Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Oco Sarona was likewise promoted as police director.
