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By Angelo S. Samonte Reporter
JAGNA, Bohol: President Gloria
Arroyo confirmed a revamp in
her Cabinet but declined to give
names of the officials to be affected by the changes.
“Yes, there would be a
[Cabinet] revamp next month,” President Arroyo told reporters
during a dinner Monday night in Malacañang sa Sugbu in Cebu.
When pressed on the names of the
Cabinet members to be given new assignments, Mrs. Arroyo said it was
premature to announce it.
When asked about a Cabinet member
who has been rumored to be getting a US posting, she replied, “No
more, no more [questions].”
The talks have it that Executive
Secretary Eduardo Ermita will be named as the new Philippine
ambassador to Washington. Ermita, supposedly would be replaced by
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.
Mrs. Arroyo also declined to give
a hint on how big the reshuffle would be. There had been
speculations that some Cabinet members would be removed.
Malacañang earlier assured that
there would be no changes in the President’s official family,
saying the Cabinet will remain unified and intact. The assurance
came when the rumors on an impending shake-up swirled in March.
It was reported, though, that the
President plans to change the leadership in the Defense, Local
Government, Education, and Environment departments.
Local Government is headed by
Ronaldo Puno, Education by Jesli Lapus, and Environment by Joselito
Atienza.
Atienza is the newcomer to the
Cabinet, having been appointed to his post late last year.
During a previous interview,
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said he did not want to presume on a
possible position that could be given to the Armed Forces chief,
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who will retire this month.
He pointed out that all Cabinet
members are under continuous review and that a Cabinet revamp is
always a possibility.
It was also reported that Mrs.
Arroyo would pick senatorial candidates who lost in the May 2007
elections to replace some of the Cabinet members at present. Poll
also-rans can only be appointed to government posts a year after
their loss.
Gonzalez of the Department of
Justice seemed prepared for the worst.
Short of admitting also on
Tuesday that he is soon leaving the department, he said he is not
indispensable.
“I am a soldier. Whenever the
President thinks I am [no longer] qualified [for the job], I will
go,” he added.
Gonzalez said the President is
“in the best position to determine who should stay or go.”
Also supposedly, he will be
replaced by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
According to Gonzalez, Teodoro
would be a good choice as Justice secretary as the latter is a Bar
topnotcher and a good lawyer.
He announced that Mrs. Arroyo
will be dropping by today at the Justice department to get an update
on the cases filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against
13 suspected rice hoarders.
The department was supposed to
start last Monday its formal investigation of the 13 alleged rice
hoarders but reset it to May 8. It cited the failure of the accused
to submit their reply to the complaints filed against them.
--With William B. Depasupil
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