MANILA, (PNA) — The appointment of National Food Authority Administrator Orlan A. Calayag is now subject of review following allegations that he is an American citizen, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr. said on Tuesday.
“There is an ongoing review and verification process to address other issues pertinent to this appointment,” Coloma said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang.
Coloma also clarified that Calayag will only serve the unexpired term of his predecessor Angelito T. Banayo who resigned to run for congressman of the 1st district of Agusan del Norte in the 2013 midterm elections.
Citing the transmittal dated January 17, 2013 from the Office of the Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Coloma said Calayag’s term of office was until June 30, 2013.
“There was no antedating of his appointment. The text of the appointment only refers to the original term of office of Mr. Banayo, who Mr. Calayag was appointed to replace. This means his appointment covers only the unexpired term of Banayo, beginning from the date of appointment, 17 January to June 2013,” he said.
“He was reappointed on 12 July 2013. All of these are in accordance with R.A. 10149 or the Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) Governance Act of 2011,” he said.
“There are hundreds of appointments being made that go to the Office of the President, and each one of those appointments goes through a vetting and screening process. So that is what was done in this case and in all other appointments,” he said.
Prior to his appointment at the NFA, Calayag was Executive Director of the Progressive Community and Ecological Services Organization, a non-government organization helping farmers, fisherfolks, the youth, women, and other sectors in the areas of livelihood, job generation, and environmental protection.