Lito Banayo
{{Short description|Filipino politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Philippine name|Tan|Banayo}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Angelito Tan Banayo
| office = Chairperson and Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Philippine Representative to Taiwan)
| predecessor = Antonio I. Basilio
| president = Rodrigo Duterte
| successor = Silvestre Bello III
| office2 = Administrator of the National Food Authority
| predecessor2 = Jessup Navarro
| president2 = Benigno Aquino III
| successor2 = Orlan Calayag
| alma_mater = Colegio de San Juan de Letran
Ateneo de Manila University
University of the Philippines Diliman
| term_start = June 30, 2016
| term_end = June 30, 2022
| term_start2 = July 2010
| term_end2 = September 30, 2012
| office3 = General Manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority
| term_start3 = June 30, 1998
| term_end3 = November 2000
| president3 = Joseph Estrada
| office4 = Postmaster General of the Philippines
| term_start4 = March 8, 1986
| term_end4 = 1987
| president4 = Cory Aquino
| predecessor4 = Roilo Golez
| successor4 = Roilo Golez
| successor3 = Nixon Kua
| predecessor3 = Eduardo Joaquin
| image = MECO Chairman Lito Banayo (cropped).jpg
| caption = Banayo in 2018
}}
Angelito "Lito" Tan Banayo (born 1946) is a Filipino politician with the Nationalist People's Coalition. He was appointed Chairman and Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, the de facto embassy of the Philippines in Taiwan, by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 30, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://pcoo.gov.ph/duterte-appoints-experts-to-dict-meco-napc/|title=Duterte appoints experts to DICT, MECO, NAPC|publisher=Presidential Communications Operations Office|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704171947/http://pcoo.gov.ph/duterte-appoints-experts-to-dict-meco-napc/|archive-date=July 4, 2016}} Formerly the Postmaster General under Cory Aquino and then head of the Philippine Tourism Authority during the Joseph Estrada administration, he later became administrator of the National Food Authority under Secretary of Agriculture Proceso Alcala during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III. He resigned from the latter post in September 2012 to run for the House of Representatives, but then withdrew from the race in December of that same year. He served as the campaign manager for Manila Mayor Isko Moreno's presidential campaign in 2022.
Personal life
Banayo grew up in Butuan, Agusan del Norte, where his family had moved in the 1960s.{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/13052-nfa-chief-lito-banayo-running-for-congress|title=NFA chief Lito Banayo running for Congress|work=Rappler|date=2012-09-25|access-date=2014-05-18}} He studied economics at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila, and then went on to the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and the University of the Philippines College of Public Administration.{{cite news|url=http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/opinion/4697-lito-banayo-for-congressman|first=Butch|last=Del Castillo|title=Lito Banayo for congressman?|work=Business Mirror|date=2012-08-30|access-date=2014-05-18|archive-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140519045242/http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/opinion/4697-lito-banayo-for-congressman}}
As Postmaster General
In the aftermath of the February 1986 People Power Revolution which ousted President Ferdinand Marcos, incoming president Cory Aquino appointed Banayo as Postmaster General, succeeding Roilo Golez who had resigned to run for the Senate in the 1987 elections. As Postmaster General, Banayo instituted reforms aimed at reducing employee pilferage, in particular installing one-way mirrors at Manila International Airport Airmail Distribution Center. He resisted calls to conduct a purge of Marcos-era employees, though he did aim to make executive cuts while expanding the number of mail carriers, mail sorters, and other base-level employees. He also investigated corruption and malfeasance as part of a "big cleanup", in some cases finding that allegations of corruption against certain people were in fact false rumors spread by political opponents, while in other cases finding genuine wrongdoing such as a mail-pilfering syndicate operating in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19870706&id=HmcVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QwsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5141,402590|title=Profile: The new Postmaster General — 'Snake pit' by the Pasig gets new image|work=Manila Standard|date=1987-07-06|access-date=2014-05-18}} Banayo was also responsible for the push to establish the Philippine Postal Corporation, a government-owned company, to replace the old Bureau of Posts. However, his predecessor Golez' Senate campaign was unsuccessful, and in July 1987 Golez was appointed back to Banayo's post.
Late 1990s and 2000s
During the Joseph Estrada administration, Banayo served as a presidential political advisor, as well as general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority. In 2004, Banayo went on to become a columnist for the daily newspaper Malaya, a post which he held until 2010. He spoke out against murder allegations leveled at Senator Panfilo Lacson in 2010, after Lacson had fled the country for Hong Kong, {{cite news|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/08/10/lacson-seek-political-asylum|title=Lacson to seek political asylum?|work=ABS-CBN News|date=2010-02-08|access-date=2014-05-18}} where he formerly served as his campaign strategist during 2004 elections.
Administrator of the National Food Authority
Banayo was appointed to head the National Food Authority by President Benigno Aquino III, amidst accusations of over-importation by outgoing president Gloria Arroyo's administration.{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100728-283536/Were-swimming-in-riceNFA-chief|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326103404/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100728-283536/Were-swimming-in-riceNFA-chief|first=TJ|last=Burgonio|title='We're swimming in rice' — NFA chief|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=2010-07-28|access-date=2014-05-18|archive-date=2013-03-26}} In response to President Aquino's complaints of rice stocks "rotting in government warehouses", he appointed a private-sector auditor to investigate the NFA's rice procurement and importation system.{{cite news|url=http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=2010072879369|title=NFA creates audit team to probe reported rice scams|work=Saudi Gazette|date=2010-07-28|access-date=2014-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519074620/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=2010072879369|archive-date=May 19, 2014}} Banayo also called on the National Bureau of Investigation to help combat rice smuggling.{{cite news|url=http://www.megascene.net/?p=1813|title=NBI tapped to help stop rice smuggling|work=MegaScene: The Fil-Am Weekly|date=2010-07-30|access-date=2014-05-18}} By January 2011, Banayo had produced a report with his findings, alleging overpricing of rice imports during the Arroyo administration, which he submitted to Aquino for further investigation; Arroyo-era agricultural officials including Arthur Yap disputed Banayo's price data.{{cite news|url=http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/riceproblem/view.php?db=1&article=20110115-314531|first1=Gil C. Jr.|last1=Cabacungan|first2=Norman|last2=Bordadora|title=Rice overprice probe on; Yap disputes data|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=2011-01-15|access-date=2014-05-18}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
During the rest of his tenure, Banayo aimed to decrease the agency's role in rice importation, stating that the private sector should take the lead in this regard, and instead focus on local procurement; he would later warn of the financial dangers of the NFA "monopoly" on imports.{{cite news|url=http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/02/17/nfa-monopoly-threatens-rice-industry-/|first=Rey E.|last=Requejo|title=NFA monopoly threatens rice industry|work=Manila Standard Today|date=2014-02-17|access-date=2014-05-18|archive-date=May 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519074602/http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/02/17/nfa-monopoly-threatens-rice-industry-/}}
In 2014, the National Bureau of Investigation filed graft charges before the Ombudsman against Banayo and five others in connection with the alleged irregular rice importation program of the agency during his Tenure
House of Representatives campaign
In September 2012, Banayo resigned from his NFA post to prepare to contest the May 2013 House of Representatives mid-term elections in Agusan del Norte. Orlan Calayag was appointed to succeed him in January 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/business/20120-real-estate-consultant-is-new-nfa-chief|title=Real estate consultant is new NFA chief|work=Rappler|date=2013-01-21|access-date=2013-10-31}}
In December 2012, 4 SM Agri Venture Multi-Purpose Cooperative head Simeon Sioson claimed in testimony before the Senate that Banayo and Nixon Kua had been involved in rice smuggling.{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/285764/economy/finance/witnesses-link-2-ex-govt-officials-to-rice-smuggling|first=Kimberly Jane|last=Tan|title=Witnesses link 2 ex-govt officials to rice smuggling|work=GMA News|date=2012-12-10|access-date=2014-05-18}} At the time, Banayo had just undergone heart surgery, and did not appear at a Senate Agriculture and Food Committee hearing about the smuggling allegations; chairman Francis Pangilinan stated in media comments that the committee would schedule another hearing.{{cite news|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/17/12/banayo-no-show-rice-smuggling-probe|first=Ryan|last=Chua|title=Banayo a no-show at rice smuggling probe|work=ABS-CBN News|date=2012-12-17|access-date=2014-05-18}} He withdrew from the race at the end of his month, citing health reasons. Fellow party members denied reports that his withdrawal was related to unpopularity or the rice smuggling inquiry against him.{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/12/24/889463/lawmakers-welcome-banayo-withdrawal-congress-race|first=Ben|last=Serrano|title=Lawmakers welcome Banayo withdrawal from Congress race|work=Philippine Star|date=2012-12-24|access-date=2014-05-18}}
In February 2013, the Senate committee recommended that Banayo and Gilbert Lauengco of the NFA's special bids and awards committee be charged under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019).{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/02/13/908188/senate-wants-banayo-charged-over-rice-smuggling|first=Christina|last=Mendez|title=Senate wants Banayo charged over rice smuggling|work=Philippine Star|date=2013-02-13|access-date=2014-05-18}} Their findings were later referred to the Ombudsman of the Philippines, which by March 2014 had declined to pursue the matter further.{{cite news|url=http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/top-stories/68346-ombudsman-hit|first=Marlon|last=Purificacion|title=Ombudsman hit!|work=Journal Online|date=2014-03-06|access-date=2014-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220551/http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/top-stories/68346-ombudsman-hit|archive-date=May 20, 2014}}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [http://litobanayo.blogspot.com So I See ... Konting Pananaw], Banayo's personal blog
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banayo, Lito}}
Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni
Category:Colegio de San Juan de Letran alumni
Category:Heads of government agencies of the Philippines
Category:Diplomats for the Philippines
Category:University of the Philippines alumni
Category:Duterte administration personnel
Category:Benigno Aquino III administration personnel
Category:Estrada administration personnel