SOLICITOR general Jose Calida has been named by incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as chairperson of the Commission on Audit (COA), and Philippine National Bank (PNB) Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso as president of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), incoming press secretary Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles said yesterday.
Calida, who has been the solicitor general since 2016, helped convince the Supreme Court in 2016 to junk petitions challenging President Duterte’s decision to bury Marcos’ father, president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
He also sought the inhibition of Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in a poll protest related to the 2016 vice presidential elections, which Marcos Jr. lost to Leni Robredo. He was also a member of the prosecution team during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada.
Calida served as undersecretary of the Department of Justice and executive director of the Dangerous Drugs Board. He is a founding partner of the J Calida and Associates and a
Veloso, a veteran banker, has served as chief executive officer of HSBC Philippines.
Angeles said vetting and screening for other key posts, like for heads of the foreign affairs, health, and energy departments, are ongoing.
She said other nominees and appointees, whose names have been announced, are going to take their oath tomorrow in Malacañang after Marcos’ inauguration.
The first official Cabinet meeting will be on July 1, she also said.
The Office of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) was officially turned over yesterday to Angeles by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
Andanar expressed confidence Angeles will be able to sustain reforms in the department and expressed hope some programs will be sustained, like the “upgrade of facilities of public media assets, including at the PNA, PTV, PIA, PBS, RTVM, and the BCS; the realization of the goals for the Government Communications Academy, the Mindanao Media Hub, and the Visayas Media Hub; and strengthened ties with both local and international media.”
He urged incoming officials to continue to promote Freedom of Information, rally behind the protection of media personnel, and push for the legislation of the Media Workers’ Welfare Bill.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Department of Health (DOH) has prepared for the transition from the leadership of Secretary Francisco Duque III.
She said the DOH has prepared “plans, briefers, and others needed to be endorsed to the new secretary once he/she assumes the position.” — With Gerard Naval
