Duterte names new SSS president

President Rodrigo Duterte has named Michael Regino as president of the Social Security System (SSS), Malacañang said Friday.

Prior to this appointment, Regino was a commissioner of the Social Security Commission (SSC), which serves as the governing board of the SSS, as well as a director of Unionbank of the Philippines and Philex Mining Corporation, according to his profile on the SSS website.

The Palace also confirmed the appointment of lawyer Dante Vargas as Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas. Vargas bested retired Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon and the Office of the Ombudsman's Beda Epres for the post.

There are 58 days before the May 9 general elections, meaning these appointments are still not covered by the election ban.

The Omnibus Election Code prohibits any head, official or appointing officer of a government office, agency or instrumentality, whether national or local, including government-owned or controlled corporations from making appointment of new employees, creation of new position, promotion, or giving salary increases 45 days before the election and thirty days before a special election, except upon prior authority of the Comelec.

Likewise, the same law states that the Comelec cannot grant the authority sought for exemption "unless it is satisfied that the position to be filled is essential to the proper functioning of the office or agency concerned, and that the position shall not be filled in a manner that may influence the election." — VBL, GMA News