MANILA, Philippines –  President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Michael G. Aguinaldo as chairperson of the Commission on Audit (COA), Malacañang announced on Wednesday, March 25.

Aguinaldo, who replaces retired COA chair Grace Pulido-Tan, will be COA chairperson until February 2, 2022.  Malacañang signed and issued his ad interim appointment on Wednesday.

As Deputy Executive Secretary, Aguinaldo handled the legal affairs for the Office of the President, “including the formulation of operational policies, standards and processes for efficient and effective provision of legal and legislative assistance and services to the organizational units of the Office of the President and the different departments and government agencies,” Malacañang said.

He was a member of various OP task forces and committees, including the Internal Affairs and Complaints Committee and the Promotions Board, and chaired the Bids and Awards Committee.

Aguinaldo headed the Investigation and Adjudication Office, formerly the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, handling complaints against presidential appointees and certain local government officials and the Integrity Management Program.

He was also the representative to the Presidential United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Inter-Agency Committee.

Aguinaldo was a partner and executive committee member at the Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc and De los Angeles law firm from 1994 to 2011, before he joined the Aquino administration. He was an associate of De Borja Medialdea Ata Bello Guevara and Serapio law firm from 1992 to 1994.

Aguinaldo obtained his AB Philosophy degree from De La Salle University in 1987, before pursuing his law degree at the Ateneo de Manila University Law School. He placed 7th in the 1993 bar examinations.

He obtained a Special Degree in International Economic Law from the University of Michigan in 1997.

Aguinaldo is a faculty member at the Ateneo Law School where he teaches courses on Obligations and Contracts, Credit Transactions, Legal Forms, Labor Relations, Labor Standards Law, and Negotiation Seminar.

COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza was COA officer-in-charge pending the appointment of Tan’s permanent replacement. – Rappler.com