SHOWBIZ celebrity Aiza Seguerra and her partner Liza Diño were appointed to government posts, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Friday.
Seguerra, a former child actress who became a popular singer and composer, was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of the National Youth Commission for a three-year term, replacing Gio Tingson.
Diño, on the other hand, was appointed chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines for a period of three years, replacing the current FDCP chairman Briccio Santos.
Diño is related to Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Michael Diño and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman Martin Diño, whom Duterte replaced to become PDP-Laban’s standard bearer in a last-minute attempt.
Meanwhile, singer Jimmy Bondoc, who like Seguerra and Diño were vocal supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte during the campaign, defended his appointment to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. as assistant vice president for entertainment.
“Soon, I will officially be the AVP for entertainment for Pagcor, a blessing that the Good Lord has assigned to me through the power of our beloved President … I have already begun working. It’s a 9-6 p.m. job, and I have begun to learn the ropes,” Bondoc said in a recent Twitter post.
”I don’t mind people questioning the credentials of some of us appointees. I know that’s part of life. However, I would also like to say that entertainment is God’s gift to me. I know it back and forth, but I am also willing to learn much more these coming years,” he said.
Aside from Seguerra, Diño and Bondoc, Duterte has also appointed other celebrities to key government posts.
Musician and businessman Ramon Jacinto was recently appointed as Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs and Information Technology Communications with the rank of undersecretary while travel show host Katherine De Castro, daughter of former Vice President Noli De Castro was named tourism undersecretary.
Comedian Arnell Ignacio was also appointed Pagcor AVP for community relations and services.