Indecisive? Cabinet still unfilled at last minute
During an interview with reporters at the sidelines of his rehearsal for arrival honors ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City (Metro Manila), Aquino disclosed that there are still three Cabinet positions that need to be filled up.
When asked to tick off a few names from his prospective official family, the President-elect declined, saying that he would do the announcement today.
Aquino has named lawyer Paquito Ochoa Jr. as executive secretary, lawyer Edwin Lacierda as his spokesman, Corazon Soliman as Social Welfare secretary and Teresita Deles as presidential adviser on peace process.
The others who will reportedly be named as members of the official family are Aquino’s chief of staff, Julia Abad as Presidential Management Staff head, Cesar Purisima as Finance secretary, Makati Business Club Executive Director Alberto Lim as Tourism chief, lawyer Kim Jacinto-Henares as Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Lt. Gen. Voltaire Gazmin as Defense secretary.
Still others who were reportedly given positions are Chairman Leila de Lima of the Commission on Human Rights as Justice secretary, former Education Secretary Florencio Abad as Budget secretary, Jose Rene Almendras as Energy secretary, Jaime Aristotle Alip as Agriculture secretary, Guillermo Parayno as Bureau of Customs commissioner and Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City as Interior secretary.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo on Sunday confirmed that Aquino would retain him and De La Salle University-Manila said that its president, Brother Armin Luistro, also accepted the offer to become Education secretary.
Concurrent Environment Secretary Horacio Ramos will also stay in his post for one year.
Aquino is yet to name his choice to head the Philippine National Police but he earlier said that he would not accept the resignation of Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa, who heads the police force. By Cris G. Odronia Reporter
|
