PRRD appoints Cardema as new NYC chair

Cardema will be replacing resigned NYC chairperson Cariza “Ice” Seguerra, who stepped down from his post last March. (File Photo: NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION/Facebook)

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed National Youth Commission (NYC) officer-in-charge Ronald Gian Cardema as the commission’s new chairperson.

Cardema will be replacing resigned NYC chairperson Cariza “Ice” Seguerra, who stepped down from his post last March.

Cardema will serve as NYC chairperson for three years.

Prior to being appointed as NYC chairperson, he served as NYC Commissioner representing Luzon since August 2017.

Cardema is also chairperson of Duterte Youth, a group supportive of Duterte and his administration.

He served as Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. (ROTC) Class President of the University of the Philippines Los Baños ROTC Unit and UP Centennial ROTC Corps Commander at the University of the Philippines Diliman during the 100th year of the state university.

He has also expressed support for Duterte’s call to return the mandatory ROTC program in universities.

Cardema gained public attention after Duterte Youth’s encounter with singer and staunch Duterte critic Jim Paredes at a rally during the 31st anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution in February 25, 2017.

Solicitor General Jose Calida later honored Cardema and other members of the Duterte Youth with “Republic Defenders” pins after the encounter.

Duterte signed Cardema’s appointment paper last August 23 but was only released to the media on Tuesday (August 28).

Meanwhile, Malacañang has also released the appointment paper of Teresita Leonardo-De Castro as new Supreme Court chief justice.

Other appointees include Antonio Tongio Kho Jr. as ad interim commissioner at the Commission on Elections (Comelec); Alexis Lumbatan as member of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC); Francisco Garcia as member of the Board of Trustees at the Philippine Rice Research Institute; Myrla Paradillo as member of the Board of Administrators at the Cooperative Development Authority; Kristjan Gargantiel as member of the Board of Directors at the DBP Data Center Inc.; Maria Luisa Imperial Belen as Director II of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Finance; and Romeo De Vera Poquiz as member of the Board of Directors at the Philippine National Oil Company.