Finally, NDRRMC has new chief

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III has finally appointed retired Army general Eduardo del Rosario as Acting Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, replacing Benito Ramos who resigned last February 1.

Malacañang announced Del Rosario’s appointment on Monday, February 4, more than two weeks after it initially denied he had been appointed. On January 14, Del Rosario and Ramos met in Camp Aguinaldo to discuss the transition, but the meeting caught the Palace by surprise since at the time the President had yet to accept Ramos’ resignation.

Del Rosario told reporters then that it was Gazmin who had offered him the job.

Del Rosario, who retired from the military in November last year as commanding general of the 2nd infantry division based in Tanay, Rizal, headed Task Force Kalihim, which searched for the ill-fated plane that carried then Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, an aide and two pilots in August 2012. Robredo and the two pilots died in the crash.

Ramos, also a retired general, resigned reportedly to attend to his ailing wife, who has diabetes. – Rappler.com