MANILA – Some newly appointed officials, including Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, took their oath today before President Rodrigo Duterte.

Aside from Villar, among those who took their oath were:

- Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Lanee David; - National Anti-Poverty Commissioner Lead Convenor Liza Maza;
- Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs Ramon 'RJ' Jacinto;
- Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao;
- Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Arthur Tabaquero; and, - Presidential Protocol Chief Marciano Paynor.

Paynor was also named director-general for operations of the Office of the ASEAN, and chair of the National Organizing Council.

Some of the chief executive's choices for his Cabinet have been met with controversy, including Villar, who is the son of former Senator Manuel Villar Jr.

The elder Villar was accused of influencing the DPWH to make sure the Las Piñas-Paranaque Link Road Project and the DPWH C-5 Road Extension Project passed through family business-owned real estate properties in Las Piñas. Villar, however, denied that he benefited from the project.

In previous interviews with media, Secretary Villar said he will make sure that his family does not gain anything from his position, including inside information. As a matter of fact, he said, Duterte asked him for a map of all the subdivisions his family owns to make sure that they will not do anything that will benefit their businesses "in any way."

Villar resigned as the representative of the lone district of Las Piñas to make way for his taking over the reins of the DPWH. -- With a report from Willard Cheng

Related: Controversies hound Duterte's Cabinet choices