(Eagle News)— Former Social Security System (SSS) commissioner Jose Gabriel “Pompee” La Viña took his oath as the new Department of Tourism (DoT) undersecretary on Monday, April 30.
La Viña’s oath-taking was presided by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo at the DoT office.
La Viña was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 24, replacing former tourism undersecretary Rolando Cañizal.
This was after his appointment as SSS commissioner was not renewed in February.
While he was at the SSS, La Viña faced various controversies including his alleged request for a P26-million funding for a social media project and a P1.6-million monthly allocation for a media advertising program.
He denied these allegations.
“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,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
“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 said.
In January, La Viña filed an administrative complaint against 21 SSS officials at the Office of the Ombudsman for their allegedly anomalous media contracts and accused several colleagues of insider trading.
He previously served as social media director of Duterte in the last presidential elections.
(Jodi Bustos, Eagle News Service)