NCMF CHIEF. Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim (2nd from right) took his Oath of Office as the new chief of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (2nd from left) at the Malacañan Palace on March 27, 2024. The ceremony was witnessed by Governor Yshmael “Mang” Sali of Tawi-Tawi (leftmost) and the Secretary’s wife Barangay Chairwoman Dewy Sabuddin (rightmost). (Photo from NCMF website)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed a new secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and several other officials in at least nine other government agencies.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced that Sabuddin Abdurahim was appointed as the new NCMF chief, replacing Secretary Guiling Mamondiong.
According to the NCMF, Abdurahim, a former Tawi-Tawi First District Board member, took his oath before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at the Malacañan Palace on March 27.
Marcos also appointed Renato Reside Jr. as Undersecretary of the Department of Finance (DOF), while Antonio Tabora Jr. was named Presidential Assistant for Cordillera Administrative Region with the rank of Assistant Secretary.
Other appointees under the Office of the President (OP) include Cynthia Vergara as Assistant Executive Secretary of the OP’s Internal Audit Office, and Alexander Flores as Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Support Services and Auxiliaries.
Meanwhile, Elmer Jude Mesina was appointed Deputy Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency, while Rolando Martinez was named Director IV of the Philippine Space Agency.
The President also appointed Marcelino Villafuerte II as Director III of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Jesus Sale Jr. as Board Member of the Social Security Commission representing the Workers' Group, Julio Balanag as Sangguniang Panlungsod Member of the City of Las Piñas, Penelope De Ausen as Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and Lou Zenith Europa as Director IV of the Department of Education.
He also appointed new members in the DOF’s Land Bank Securities Inc., namely, Gonzalo Benjamin Bongolan, Liduvino Geron, Felix Manlangit, Adelfa Masacupan, Jennifer Tantan, Lucila Tesorero, and Ma. Cielito Valdivia.
Other appointees were Lester Tan (Director IV at the Department of Health), Ma. Teresa Inigo (Director General of DOH-Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care), Shielo Reyes (Director IV at the National Economic and Development Authority), and Elmer Decena (Director II at the Land Transportation Office). (PNA)
