While it has previously been noted that there are two Boholanos in President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet, one more key official in the administration recently made it known that he traces his roots to Bohol.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who was in Bohol last week, took pride of having Boholanos as great grandparents, Felix Ranario Acero and Maxima Penaso Acero, both from Garcia Hernandez.
Andanar said that although he grew up in Cagayan de Oro City, he feels his being a “Boholano by blood.”
Prior to his appointment as secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Andanar was connected with TV-5 and other media groups in Manila.
The communications secretary arrived in Bohol last Friday to visit his grandmother, Lilia Penaso Acero-Marfori in Garcia Hernandez.
He also led various functions in the province including the launching of the government’s campaign against fake news and organized the Provincial Communication Officers Network composed of government information officers and some members of the mainstream media in the province.
During the same visit, Andanar also announced that Duterte is expected to visit Bohol on Thursday.
Duterte is slated to keynote the biggest convention of the country’s vice mayors at Bellevue Resort on Thursday which is the second day of the three-day confab.
The other two Boholano Cabinet members are Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr. of Maribojoc town and Secretary Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) from Tagbilaran City.