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Talks that Finance Secretary Margarito Teves is on
his way out of the Cabinet appear to have been premature, as Malacañang
submitted his reappointment papers to the Commission on Appointments
on Friday.
President Gloria Arroyo earlier
announced that there would be a Cabinet reshuffle. The announcement
fueled speculations that Teves, who had not been confirmed by the
commission, might be replaced by an administration stalwart who lost
in the 2007 senatorial elections.
But the reappointment suggests
Teves still enjoys Malacañang’s support.
His appointment was bypassed when
Congress went on recess on March 13 without confirming him.
Teves’s reappointment is to be taken up Tuesday.
A former congressman, Teves is
believed to have the support of many lawmakers on the Commission on
Appointments. But when he was bypassed during the Thirteenth
Congress, his father, former Negros Oriental Rep. Herminio Teves
charged that some congressmen in the commission were demanding money
and key appointments at the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the
Bureau of Customs in return for his confirmation. Both agencies are
under the administrative supervision of the Finance department.
This time, Teves’ problems are
no longer with congressmen but with Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, finance
committee chairman.
Enrile had questioned Teves’
circumvention of a Bureau of Internal Revenue ruling imposing an
excise tax of P26 per pack on Pall Mall. Teves had instead approved
a lower tax of P6.74 a pack, prompting Enrile to charge that Teves’
decision caused the government to lose hundreds of millions of pesos
in foregone revenue.
Teves later issued an order
increasing the excise tax on Pall Mall, but this failed to appease
Enrile who said that it came too late and that the Finance secretary
should collect the back taxes of the cigarette firm.
For his part, Sen. Richard Gordon
had demanded from Teves a concerted action against smugglers and
their protectors before he could endorse Teves’ confirmation.
Gordon said smugglers of oil, cars, cigarettes and liquor are raking
in billions of pesos.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson had asked
Teves to submit documents on all loan agreements entered into by the
Arroyo administration, particularly the financial package on the
NorthRail project.
The many requirements asked of
Teves and the frequent deferment of his confirmation had caused his
father to storm out of the Commission on Appointments hearing on
February 27, saying his son should immediately resign from
government.
To date, several members of the
commission are mulling over a rule that would consider a nominee or
appointee virtually rejected if he is bypassed twice. Others are
against the proposal, saying this clips the presidential powers.
Bunye replacement
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye
said he will announce his successor on June 6.
When asked by media to name the
possible nominee, Bunye said, “I just expressed my preference for
an insider. He is a member of the Cabinet, and at present, holds
Cabinet rank.”
Rumors have been circulating that
President Arroyo may appoint Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process Jesus Dureza to replace Bunye.
When asked by reporters for
confirmation, Bunye said, “I have a lot of respect for the members
of the Cabinet, and I believe anyone who would replace me would be
able to work very well with media.”
Bunye declined to confirm that
Dureza is set to replace him, saying “there are at least 40
persons with Cabinet rank, like Cerge Remonde, and as I said, there
are 40 persons in the plantilla so I’ll make the announcements on
June 6.
Bunye said he has no intention of
running in 2010, saying his new position as a monetary board member
requires full-time attention. He said he is simply moving out of the
President’s official family to fulfill his dream of going back to
the banking sector.
Efren L. Danao And Angelo S.
Samonte
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