Police chief appointed transportation secretary

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as transportation secretary after the department's current head quit amid a barrage of intrigue relating to government projects.

"I expect to make a difference. There are some areas where the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) can use my experience in law enforcement," PNP Director General, Leandro Mendoza, told reporters yesterday after learning of his new appointment.

Mendoza was appointed the same day that the presidential palace announced Arroyo's acceptance of an "irrevocable" resignation tendered by the Department chief, Pantaleon Alvarez.

In a regular press briefing at the palace, Press Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr. said Alvarez had submitted his resignation after June 5 when the President re-appointed him.

He explained that Alvarez had said in his letter that he wanted to free the President from the burden arising from unfair and unfounded charges against him, which he said "have no basis in fact".

"Alvarez felt it is his duty to help resolve the problem rather than be part of it," Afable noted.

Alvarez had been turned down five times for confirmation as Department chief by the powerful Commission of Appointments made up of members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The rejections were mainly due to Alvarez's association with Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel, who reportedly cornered a considerable share in government projects such as Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III where so-called "front personalities" were used to mask the controversial involvement of the president's husband.

While admitting that the appointment of Mendoza has already been signed, Afable said he did not know the exact date the appointment would be effective since "there are some transition matters that have to be taken up".

Replacing Mendoza will be PNP Deputy Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, incumbent head of the National Anti-Kidnapping Force.

Apart from the appointment of Mendoza, Arroyo also announced the appointment of Bayani Fernando as the new chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The MMDA's past chairman, Benjamin Abalos, was earlier named to head the independent Commission on Elections.

Arroyo said Fernando's track record of earning international awards for suburban Marikina City when he was mayor until 1998, would do well in improving the MMDA which is presently beset with problems such as garbage disposal and heavy vehicular traffic, among others.