By Genalyn D. Kabiling
President Duterte has appointed Virginia Orogo as acting Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Eliseo Rio Jr. as acting Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Orogo currently serves as DSWD Undersecretary for Special Concerns while Rio is the officer-in-charge of the DICT.
The appointment papers of the two officials were signed by the President last May 8 but were released to the public yesterday.
Orogo takes the place of Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, who lost her job after the Commission on Appointments rejected her appointment last August.
Malacanang expressed dismay with the CA rejection of Taguiwalo, saying she served the administration with passion, profession, and integrity.
Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco was designated OIC of the DSWD.
Rio replaces Secretary Rodolfo Salalima, who resigned last September due to personal and work-related reasons at the helm of the DICT.
The President later revealed that he forced Salalima to resign due to complaints about his alleged preferential treatment for some telecommunications companies.
Malacañang also announced two other new government appointees – two members of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Board of Directors are Rolando Ampunin representing the national government and Benasing Macarambon Jr. representing the business and investment sectors.
