PNoy: Oban, ex-Coast Guard chief Liwag to get govt posts

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said he is prepared to assign retired Armed Forces chief Eduardo Oban Jr. and newly-retired Coast Guard commandant Ramon Liwag to government posts “appropriate to their skills.”

 

“Yung appropriate to their skills and to what they have demonstrated in terms of managerial abilities,” Aquino told reporters when asked what positions in government he plans to give to Oban and Liwag.

 

During the change of command at the Philippine Coast Guard Tuesday, the President said in his speech that he is ready to put Liwag to a new post.

 

“Bagamat siya (Liwag) po ay umabot na sa edad ng pagreretiro, hindi pa po siya tapos maglingkod sa atin pong bayan at handa na raw pong magpalipat ng pwesto. Bibigyan naman kita ng bakasyon, bukas ka na mag-report,” Aquino said.

 

He then turned his attention to Oban and asked if the latter is ready to take a new post.

 

“Pangako ko kasi sa kanya (Oban), may three months siya (to think things over). May two months ka pang natitira pero kung ready ka na, ready na rin kami,” Aquino said.                  

Oban retired in December last year after serving as AFP chief of staff for nine months. He was replaced by Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa. Others before them

 

Just last year, the President appointed retired AFP chief Ricardo David  to head the Bureau of Immigration. Oban succeeded David as AFP chief.

 

 Another retired military general, Nestor Ochoa, had been named ambassador to Brunei Darussalam. For a time, Ochoa served as acting military chief following the early retirement of Gen. Delfin Bangit. He retired in July 2010. Meanwhile, former Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command chief, Gaudencio Pangilinan, was named head of the Bureau of Corrections in July last year. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News