MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has a new job for Jose Gabriel “Pompee” La Viña.

La Viña, who was previously appointed tourism undersecretary, has been appointed undersecretary for the Department of Agriculture (DA).

His appointment papers, released by Malacañang on Thursday, June 7, were signed on Wednesday, June 6. (READ: From SSS to tourism: Who is Pompee La Viña?)

At the DA, he takes the place of Bernadette Romulo Puyat who Duterte named tourism secretary after the resignation of Wanda Teo.

JUST IN. #PresidentDuterte transfers Pompee La Viña from DOT to Dept of Agriculture. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/F2c08IHUUV

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) June 7, 2018

La Viña’s appointment as tourism executive had raised eyebrows because Duterte had previously terminated his term as Social Security System (SSS) commissioner due to “abuse”of public funds.

La Viña, before serving as SSS commissioner, was part of the social media team of Duterte’s presidential campaign.

Lambino as adviser for Northern Luzon

Duterte also signed the appointment papers of Raul Lambino, his Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) administrator, as presidential adviser for Northern Luzon.

Lambino had been a lawyer of former president now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, serving as her spokesperson when she was under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

Aside from these two appointments, Duterte renewed his appointments of Carlos Chan and Wallie Lee as his special envoys to China. 

The President also appointed Bruce Tolentino, currently deputy director general at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) as board member at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). – Rappler.com