President Rodrigo Duterte has named Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) commissioner Sandra Sanchez-Montano as chairperson of the agency.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed this in a virtual presser from Davao City on Thursday.

“Ang bagong talagang commissioner po ay si (The new commissioner is) Miss Montano. So I can confirm po na ang isang (that a) sitting commissioner became the chairperson of the Commission on Women,” he said.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea also confirmed the new appointment in a text message to reporters.

Roque said Montano’s appointment is the prerogative of the President.

“All presidential appointments po are presidential prerogatives. No explanations need to be given,” he said.

Prior to her appointment, Montano was the PCR commissioner representing the science and health sector.

As a disaster preparedness advocate, she also founded the Community Health Education Emergency Rescue Services Corp.

She will replace Rhodoro Bucoy, who resigned from her post on July 7.

“We would like to inform our stakeholders that Chairperson Bucoy tendered her resignation letter dated July 7, 2020 which is yet to be transmitted to our head agency, the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” a PCW said on its official Facebook account.

PCW also denied rumors that Duterte fired Bucoy.

Bucoy, appointed in October 2016, was a retired associate professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu. (PNA)