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By Angelo S. Samonte, Reporter
President Gloria Arroyo has named former Armed
Forces chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. as presidential adviser on the
peace process and Jesus Dureza as the next Press secretary.
Dureza will replace Ignacio Bunye on June 16,
when he joins Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Monetary Board. Dureza
used to be the President’s adviser on the peace process.
Bunye announced the latest Cabinet changes in
his regular column, “View from the Palace.”
He said Dureza had asked President Arroyo for
time to wind down his affairs, as he was still in Libya on the
invitation of Col. Muammar Qaddafi’s son, Sail Al Islam, who has
been working for an enhanced implementation of the 1996 Peace
Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF).
Dureza wrote to Bunye accepting the new
appointment.
“I consider this as a progression of my work
and commitment for peace and development, this time perhaps with a
bigger, wider platform,” Bunye quoted from Dureza’s letter. “I
will give it my best shot. I hope I can fit in the big shoes
Secretary Toting Bunye is leaving behind with distinction.”
Esperon, who retired from military service last
week, also accepted the post “without batting an eyelash,” Bunye
said.
He added that the revamp is complete, but more
changes involving non-Cabinet posts will be made.
Earlier, President Arroyo named former Justice
secretary and peace negotiator Silvestre Bello 3rd as Cabinet
secretary, replacing Ricardo Saludo, who was appointed Civil Service
Commission chairman.
Esperon pleased
“It’s a job that I could put my heart
into,” Esperon said, referring to his new job. He admitted knowing
about his appointment on May 14, saying he was honored with the
President’s decision.
“Its a very serious job,” Esperon said.
“Secretary [Eduardo] Ermita is very familiar with [the] peace
process, but he still has to review many documents when he was
appointed as presidential adviser for the peace process.” Like
Esperon, Ermita came from the military.
Esperon said he favors resuming talks with the
National Democratic Front. “Of course pursuing peace is always a
good step . . . I’m sure it is to the interest of the nation, of
our soldiers, of our countrymen to have peace negotiations.”
-- With Jefferson Antiporda
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