Duterte names new Nayong Pilipino board members
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2019 04:57:09 +0000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte appointed two new board members of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation Inc. (NPFI) months after he relieved its previous officials because of alleged corruption.
Lucille Malilong Isberto and Michelle Aguilar Ong will replace Patricia Ocampo and Gerald Medina.
Isberto is a lawyer who previously served as head of the Committee on Monuments and Sites of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and at the International Council on Monuments and Sites Philippines, Inc.
Malacanang, on August 8, announced the firing of the entire board of directors and management of the NPFI for forging a 25-year, $1.5-billion-lease contract for a casino under the NayonLanding project that was deemed as “grossly disadvantageous” to the government.
The contract, which was entered into by the NPFI and Chinese company, Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. (LRPDC), provides for the construction of a 97,000-square meter integrated resort and casino.
It was originally for 70 years, reduced to 50 years before settling for 25 years.
Duterte said he fired the board members because he did not like gambling and ordered that no more additional casinos would be built.
“Do not give gambling licenses or franchise for 75 years. The child is born today, 75 years later he’s that old. There will still be gambling in the city [and] I will not allow it,” Duterte said in a speech during the 117th Police Service Anniversary in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“I hate gambling. I do not want it. There will be no casino outside of what is existing now. I am not granting anything. [For] as long as it is gambling, I do not want that. Look for something enticing to wager war [on] money,” Duterte added.
Duterte also appointed former Malabon City vice mayor Mark Allan Yambao as new undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Duterte signed the appointment letters on January 15, copies of which were released on Friday. RALPH VILLANUEVA
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