Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II will return to President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration as he was named commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) representing the private sector.
In a statement, Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque said Aguirre’s new appointment would make the police service “competent, effective, credible and responsive to our people’s needs.”
Aguirre was justice secretary from 2016 to 2018—the early days of the presidency of Duterte, his fraternity brother.
Amid drug-related controversies, Aguirre resigned in April 2018.
Aguirre will replace Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao who died on Jan. 2.
New MMDA chief
Duterte has also appointed former Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos as the new chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Abalos, whose father Benjamin Sr. also served as MMDA chairman, will replace Danilo Lim who passed away last week.
“Atty. Abalos has the professional competence and experience to head MMDA having served as a local chief executive of Mandaluyong City for many years. We wish Atty. Abalos all the best in his new assignment,” Roque said in a statement.
Abalos took oath on Jan. 11 and assumed the post on Tuesday. John Ezekiel J. Hirro