[ manilastandardtoday.com ] October 11, 2010 ]
by Joyce Pañares
President Aquino has replaced the entire board of trustees of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig Fund), keeping Vice President Jejomar Binay as chairman.
Mr. Aquino appointed lawyer Darlene Berberabe-Lim as president and chief executive officer, replacing Jaime Fabiana, under whose watch the fund was linked to highly irregular deals with Globe Asiatique Realty Inc.
Before the overhaul, Pag-IBIG ended its collection agreement with Globe Asiatique of Delfin Lee amid charges the private developer took out P6.6 billion in housing loans in the name of fictitious borrowers and failed to remit collections for the past three quarters.
The President also appointed Benjie Martinez, a top aide of Mr. Binay as member of the board of trustees, along with Edgardo Lacson, Jesus Varela, Jaime Miralles, and Raul de Mesa, a Palace statement said.
Berberabe-Lim finished her undergraduate degree summa cum laude at the University of the Philippines.
She is an associate lawyer of Quisumbing Torres (Baker & Mckenzie) Law office.
Lacson is president of the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines and immediate past president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Lacson is the chairman and co-founder of AWARE, a foundation that provides free pre-departure orientation seminars to Filipino overseas workers.
Another Pag-IBIG trustee, Jesus Varela also comes from the employers’ group and the trade chamber seving them in various capacities, according to the Palace.
Meanwhile, Ofelia Sta. Maria has also been appointed deputy administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority, according to Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesman.
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