PNoy appoints Kiko Pangilinan to Cabinet-level agriculture post

Published May 5, 2014 5:45pm

(Updated 7:03 p.m.) Amid the controversies surrounding Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Malacañang on Monday announced that President Benigno Aquino III has appointed former Senator Francis Pangilinan to a post that will also handle concerns related to food and agriculture.

"Former Sen. Pangilinan has been appointed as Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, with Cabinet rank," Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

He compared Pangilinan's appointment to that of former Senator Panfilo Lacson, who has been named presidential adviser for rehabilitation and recovery.

"Hence, he (Pangilinan) will also hold the title of Secretary," Coloma said.

Pangilinan will take his oath before the President on Tuesday afternoon.

A known administration ally, Pangilinan served as a senator from 2001 to 2013 and was chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food on his last term. His appointment came nine months after Alcala's office was tagged in the funneling of state funds to bogus organizations.

Alcala has denied his department's alleged involvement in the supposed pork barrel scam and said he doesn't personally know businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the scam's alleged mastermind.

As early as 2012, Aquino had already expressed his intention to appoint Pangilinan and Lacson to the Cabinet after the end of their terms.

In June 2013, the President confirmed that he had offered posts to the two senators. Four months later, Aquino confirmed that he had talked to Pangilinan about taking on certain "functions" in the DA, but the former senator decided to spend more time with his family first.

Meanwhile, the President formally appointed Lacson to head rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda in December last year. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ/KBK, GMA News

Tags: kikopangilinan, francispangilinan