Duterte names OICs at DICT, DOH

October 12, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed officers-in-charge at the departments of Information and Communications Technology and of Health.

Undersecretary Eliseo Mijares Rio Jr. was named as OIC of the DICT, while Undersecretary Herminigildo V. Valle as OIC of the DOH.

Executive Secretary Salvador  Medialdea signed the memoranda for their designation as OIC of their respective departments on Oct. 10, 2017.

They were designated as OICs "to ensure the continuous and effective delivery of public service," Medialdea said.

Rio was appointed after DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima quit from his post due to  alleged conflict of interest.

Duterte earlier said that he forced Salalima to resign because of complaints that the latter seemed to be partial. Salalima was connected with Globe Telecom before joining the Cabinet.

Valle, on the other hand, succeeded Paulyn Jean Ubial after the Commission on Appointments rejected her appointment as health secretary. Celerina Monte/DMS