SOME 23 ranking government officials, including Trade and Industry Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr., took their oaths of office before President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang Thursday.
Also among the newly-minted officials were Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Secretary Fredelita Guiza who replaced former secretary Francis Pangilinan, who is running for senator.
Newly-appointed Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Irene Isaac, who replaced former director general Joel Villanueva, also took the oath of office before Aquino.
Deputy Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Erdelyne Go also made her oath as well as Department of Justice Undersecretaries Emmanuel Leido Caparas, Wendell Go, and Maricar Montano.
Also inducted were Department of Education Undersecretary Reynaldo Laguda, Department of National Defense Undersecretary Jesus Millan, Department of Health Undersecretary Lilibeth David, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera and Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Gefer Mancol.
Aquino also swore in Intellectual Property Office Director-General Josephine Rima-Santiago, Government Corporate Counsel Ireneo Galicia, DOJ Assistant Secretaries Edward Alfonso, Ma. Cecille Corpuz, Ma. Monica Pagunsan, and Miguel Romualdo Sanidad.
Other assistant secretaries also inducted were DepEd Assistant Secretary Anna Cristina Ganzon, DND Assistant Secretary Felicito Virgilio Manaog Trinidad Jr., DTI Assistant Secretary Ireneo Vizmonte, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Secretary Rommel Abesamis and Land Transportation Office head, Assistant Secretary Roberto Cabrera III.