President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II as commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), Malacañang said Monday, representing the private sector.
“Mr. Aguirre served as Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary during the early years of the Duterte administration. This bodes well in his new position to make the police service competent, effective, credible and responsive to our people's needs,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
A classmate and fraternity brother of President Duterte at the San Beda law school, Aguirre served as Justice secretary starting 2016. He was succeeded by Menardo Guevarra.
Aguirre resigned from the DOJ in April 2018 amid criticisms over the initial dismissal of charges against suspected drug personalities.
Duterte also recently appointed former Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman and former Pampanga governor Mark Lapid as Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority board member.
