Ateneans dominate cabinet of President Benigno Aquino III

PAQUITO (Jojo) OCHOA, Jr., Executive Secretary
Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa finished Law at the Ateneo de Manila University after he had obtained his degree in Economics from the University of Santo Tomas. Aside from being a former classmate, Jojo Ochoa has been the legal adviser of President Noynoy Aquino since 1988.

EDWIN LACIERDA, Presidential Spokesman
Edwin Lacierda holds a Law degree from Ateneo de Manila University and a Master’s degree in Management from the Asian Institute of Management. He was the Spokesperson of President Noynoy Aquino during the presidential elections.

JULIA ABAD, Chief of Presidential Management Staff
Julia Abad already worked as Chief of Staff for President Noynoy Aquino when he was still a senator. Abad is a Fulbright alumna of Harvard University. She taught Political Science at the Ateneo de Manila University.

FLORENCIO (Butch) ABAD, Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Florencio “Butch” Abad is a Business Management graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University. He took Bachelor of Laws also from Ateneo and passed the Bar Examination in 1985. He went to John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts to finish Masters in Public Administration.

JOSE RENE ALMENDRAS, Department of Energy. Jose Rene Almendras is a graduate of Business Management from the Ateneo de Manila University. He later took Strategic Business Economics Program at the University of Asia and the Pacific. He joined Ayala-owned Manila Water Co. in 2007. He became the company’s President after 2 years.

JOSE (Ping) DE JESUS, Department of
Transportations and Communications (DOTC)
Jose “Ping” De Jesus graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with degrees in AB Economics and Master of Arts in Psychology. He is a former DPWH Secretary under the administration of former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos. Ping De Jesus is a former President of the Manila North Tollways.

PATRICIA LICUANAN, Commission on Higher Education. Patricia Licuanan is the President of Miriam College, Chief Executive Officer of the Forum in English of Philippine Business for Education at the Asian Institute of Management, and Trustee of the Center for Asia Pacific Women in Politics. When she was still in the academe, she was a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychology, and Academic Vice President of the Ateneo de Manila University.

KIM JACINTO-HENARES, Bureau of Internal Revenue Kim Jacinto-Henares is returning to BIR where she already worked as Deputy Commissioner. Prior to her appointment as the new BIR Commissioner, she was a Senior Private Sector Development Specialist from World Bank. She obtained her degree in Law from Ateneo de Manila University.

Other appointees include Hilario Davide from the University of the Philippines; Gen. Ricardo David from the Philippine Military Academy; Alberto Romulo and Bro. Armin Luistro from the De La Salle University; Mario Montejo from the University of the Philippines; Leila de Lima from San Beda College; Rogelio Singson, Virgilio de los Santos, Ramon Paje, Enrique Ona and Corazon Soliman from the University of the Philippines; Gregory Domingo from the University of Pensylvania; and Cesar Purisima from the University of Chicago. – ?