MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Partido Federal ng Pilipinas secretary general Thompson Lantion as the new chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Malacañang said Tuesday. Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez confirmed that Lantion took his oath before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Monday afternoon. Lantion, a retired police general, replaced former Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who decided to "go to private life." In a statement, Lorenzana congratulated Lantion, a fellow cavalier of the Philippine Military Academy Class '69, on his appointment to the BCDA. "With decades of government experience and tested leadership, I am confident that Chairman Lantion will be able to sustain - if not surpass - the progress that we have made in BCDA," he said. Lorenzana thanked Marcos for the trust and confidence given to him in leading BCDA. "I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead this vital agency and to contribute to the AFP modernization efforts to the best of my official and personal capacity," he said. "I am also immensely grateful for the unwavering dedication, hard work, and support of the BCDA Board of Directors, the Management, and the entire staff throughout my tenure. I am proud of what we have achieved together," he added. Lorenzana also thanked BCDA's key stakeholders from the private sector "who have partnered with us in spurring national development." "As I transition to a private life, I will continue to help the government in any way I can," he said. Read The Rest at :