MANILA, Philippines – Jose Querubin, a seasoned banker and former head of the now-defunct United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), filled the last vacant position on the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) after taking his oath on September 5, Thursday.
Querubin brings decades of banking experience to the role. He served as president and chief executive officer of the government-owned UCPB from 2003 to 2007. Prior to that, he held key roles at Bank of America and Solid Bank Corporation. He was also Megalink CEO from 2005 to 2007, and secretary of the Bankers Association of the Philippines from 2006 to 2007.
Like fellow Monetary Board member Walter Wassmer, Querubin has an MBA from the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. He has bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics (Cum Laude) and Mechanical Engineering from De La Salle University, Manila.
Querubin will take the place of Anita Aquino, who stepped down from the board earlier in 2024 after being tagged in a ghost employee scandal that risked compromising the integrity of the BSP. The controversy also led to Bruce Tolentino’s resignation from the board, and Wassmer, appointed in July, took over his seat.
The appointment of Querubin completes the seven-member Monetary Board. The central bank’s highest policy-making body includes the following:
- BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr., sitting as chairperson
- Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, sitting as the government sector representative
- Former finance secretary and BSP governor Benjamin Diokno, sitting as a private sector representative
- Romeo Bernardo, sitting as a private sector representative
- Former national treasurer Rosalia de Leon, sitting as a private sector representative
- Walter Wassmer, sitting as a private sector representative
– Rappler.com