By Myris Lee
Malacañang assigned Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Deputy Director General for Operations Undersecretary Ernesto Perez to take over Jeremiah Belgica’s position as the Director General of the agency until the end of President Rodrigo’s term on June 30.
This after the Ombudsman suspended Belgica and other four ARTA executives, namely Deputy Director General Eduardo Bringas, Division Chief Sheryl Pura-Sumagui, and Directors Jedrek Ng and Melamy Salvadora-Aspirin.
The Ombudsman ordered a half-year suspension due to the graft complaints filed by the Dito Telecommunity Corporation officials and to prevent them from monopolizing the investigation.
“ARTA is undeterred and will continue to perform its functions against bureaucratic red tape. Please be assured that the day-to-day operations of ARTA will continue to run smooth under my watch and that services will not be hampered as we perform this sacred duty to further improve the efficiency of government services,” Perez said.
Perez was initially assigned as ARTA’s head in December 2018 before Belgica was appointed in July 2019. – gb
