A WEEK after President Rodrigo Duterte complained it was “hard to look for an honest man“ who will oversee the utilization of P100-billion Coconut Levy Fund, the Chief Executive appointed embattled Gonzalo Duque, the brother of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, as the new administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
Malacanang confirmed Gonzalo’s appointment in a statement on Monday.
Duque’s brother took his oath before Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in Malacanang also on Monday.
“With his credentials, we expect a man of competence and integrity in the likes of Mr. Duque to champion the cause of the Filipino coconut farmers,” said Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo.
Prior to his appointment as PCA chief, Gonzalo served in the Social Security Services (SSS) where he represented the labor sector.
He was also Pangasinan Vice Governor from 1987 to 1992.
He was also then designated director and later promoted to deputy administrator at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
At his fourth State of the Nation Address, the President said he has not forgotten his commitment to the coconut farmers but added that he is being very careful, as it is difficult to find the right man for the post.
The President vetoed the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act earlier this year. Under the vetoed bill, the coco levy funds will instead go to a “reconstituted” PCA board, whose main job is to utilize the funds for the development of the coconut sector.
The Duque brothers are currently facing graft and plunder complaints before the Ombudsman for allegedly allowing the regional office of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Pangasinan to rent a property belonging to their family.
Francisco Duque was PhilHealth’s ex-officio chair as Health Secretary when the lease contract was inked.
Gonzalo was included as respondent in the complaint as investigation showed that he acted as representative of Social Security Services at PhilHealth’s Board of Directors even prior to his appointment as commissioner.
The complaints stemmed from Senator Panfilo Lacson’s allegations that the PhilHealth Ilocos regional office is housed in a building owned by Educational and Medical Development Corp (EDMC). building, a Duque-family owned company.
While the health secretary said he had already resigned from his post at EDMC when the property was rented to PhilHealth, the petitioners claimed that Duque has yet to divest of his shares.