James Jacob is new LTFRB chairman

Naga City native, Lawyer James Jacob, is the new Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) after the resignation of its chief, Chairman Nelson Laluces.

Laluces reportedly tendered his resignation to give Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas a free hand in choosing his own team.

While Jacob has not made any public announcement about his new appointment, sources say the LTFRB post is a position he likes.

James Jacob has a long record in government service.

In 1992 to 1998 he was a Naga City concilor before he won a term as the congressman of the second district of Camarines Sur. He also had a stint at the Department of Education as an undersecretary (2001-2002), at the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project as Manager (2004-2005), at the Philippine National Railways as Chairman (2005-3006) and at the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission as commissioner (2006-2009).

In the May 2010 elections he run for congressman of the 3rd district of Camarines Sur under the Liberal party but lost to incumbent Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte.

Coming out of a one-year ban on appointment to government position, Jacob is thought to have received support from Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo in getting his post. (With report from Noriel Oya)