PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER FOR BICOL: Duterte names former RTC judge to the post

By Jason B. Neola NAGA CITY --- Former Regional Trial Court Judge Marvel C. Clavecilla was appointed Presidential Adviser for Bicol Affairs by President Rodrigo Duterte, vice Dante L. Jimenez. The March 9, 2018 letter that contains the presidential appointment was transmitted to Clavecilla by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea of the Office of the President of the Philippines on the same day it was signed by the president. The text of the appointment letter: “Pursuant to the provisions of existing laws, you are hereby appointed Presidential Adviser for Bicol Affairs, with the rank of undersecretary, Office of the President, vice Dante L. Jimenez. By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office, furnishing this Office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office.” The letter was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Before his appointment as presidential adviser for Bicol affairs with the rank of undersecretary, Clavecilla was a member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), the work he got after he retired from the judiciary as presiding judge at the Municipal Trial Court Naga Branch 2 and Regional Trial Court Pili Branch 33. He is happily married with his wife, Edith, with whom he has 5 children. As presidential adviser from the Office of the President of the Philippines (OPP), Clavecilla is mandated to coordinate and promote all the policies and directions of the government with the different national government agencies and multisector organizations in the Bicol Region aside from echoing the sentiments of the Bicolanos to the president. Saying that he is more than willing to perform his duties and responsibilities, Clavecilla encouraged all the regional directors to feel free to coordinate with his office all matters that need to be acted upon and brought to the attention of the president. “As presidential adviser for Bicol Affairs, I will sit as vice-chairman in the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Regional Peace and Order Council as I am also tasked to inform the Office of the President about the happenings that are taking place in our region in so far as the development, and peace and order situations are concerned,” he said. The office of the Presidential Adviser for Bicol will maintain a workstation at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) building located at City Hall Compound, here.