Private prosecutor in Corona impeach trial is new LTFRB chief

Published April 30, 2013 5:05pm

(Updated 8:27 p.m.) A lawyer who acted as private prosecutor during last year's impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona has been named as the new head of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

On Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda announced that President Aquino has chosen Winston Ginez to replace former LTFRB chief Jaime Jacob, who resigned from his post last March.

Jacob, a former congressman, quit his post saying that he believes he "cannot satisfactorily perform" his functions.

Lacierda said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) applied for an exemption to the appointments ban during the election period, which the Commission on Elections subsequently approved.

The LTFRB, a line agency of the DOTC, is tasked to regulate routes of service and to issue or cancel permits authorizing public land transportation services in the country.

Ginez's credentials

Ginez is a certified public accountant and a practicing lawyer who placed third in the 1995 Bar exams. He obtained his law degree from the San Beda College of Law.

The new LTFRB chief specializes in corporate law, contract law and commercial arbitration. He also once served as vice-president for legal and corporate affairs from a private firm, the Pacific Ace Group of Companies.

Last year, Ginez volunteered as private prosecutor in the Corona trial. He handled Article II of the impeachment complaint alleging Corona of failure to publicly disclose certain assets, which eventually caused the conviction of the former chief justice.

Ginez will take his oath before DOTC chief Joseph Emilio Abaya on Thursday, Lacierda said.

Earlier this month, Aquino appointed another private prosecutor in the Corona trial, Al Parreño, as one of the new commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Academic record, work ethic Abaya, who managed the prosecution team during the Corona trial, for his part, defended Ginez's appointment. "The totality of his academic and work experience convinced me to recommend Atty. Ginez as the next LTFRB chair to the President," Abaya said in a text message. He added that he was initially "impressed" by Ginez's work ethic during the impeachment trial. The DOTC chief also said that he already gave "marching orders" to Ginez to modernize the LTFRB, apprehend colorum buses and streamline the board's processes.— Andreo Calonzo/RSJ/KBK, GMA News

Tags: aquinoadministration, ltfrb, winstonginez