Duterte appoints former SSS commissioner as DOT undersecretary

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed sacked Social Security System (SSS) commissioner Jose Gabriel “Pompee” La Viña as Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary. (Photo: Pompee La Viña/Facebook)

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed sacked Social Security System (SSS) commissioner Jose Gabriel “Pompee” La Viña as the Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary.

La Viña’s appointment paper was signed by Duterte on Tuesday, April 24, and was released to the media today, April 25.

The former commissioner expressed his gratitude to the Chief Executive for his continuing trust and confidence in him.

“I am especially thankful for the fact that as a reader of hearts and with years of experience as a prosecutor, the President does not believe any of the accusations unjustly hurled against me,” La Viña said in a statement.

“This is more important to me than any position in government,” he added.

Malacañang, last February, announced that the President will not renew the appointment of La Viña and SSS Chairman Amado Valdez as both of them were accused of misusing taxpayers’ money.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., La Viña demanded a budget of P26 million to fund his ‘social media’ project. He said that he would host the said project and that he requested for a budget of P1.6 million per month for a media advertising program, but these two requests for budget allocations were denied.

Roque added that La Viña also requested the accreditation of seven brokers to handle SSS investments, which was once again rejected as “these brokers could not meet the requirements.”

The Palace official also cited La Viña’s alleged “vilification campaign” against four SSS officials “who crossed his path” as one of the reasons why he was sacked.

He further said that La Viña’s termination was proof that Duterte would not tolerate even a “whiff of corruption” from any government employee under his watch. The President, however, gave him another post in the government, this time in the DOT.

Reacting to the allegations against him, La Viña said, “When the real story of my time in government is finally told, it shall be written that there has never been and will never be a whiff of a whiff of a whiff of corruption in me.”

“I have had no greater honor in a life overflowing with blessings than to have served the people faithfully as a Commissioner at the Social Security System of the Philippines. I will continue to do so as Undersecretary at the Department of Tourism,” he continued.

The former commissioner will be taking over the position of tourism undersecretary from Rolando Cañizal.