TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — By early next month, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will have an entirely new Cabinet.Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita Wednesday said he would likely seek a congressional seat in his home province, signaling the exodus of Cabinet officials running for public office in May next year.
Ermita confirmed that he or a family member would run for Congress in the first district of Batangas since his daughter Rep. Aileen Ermita-Buhain would have completed her term by June 2010.
“Now remember, all politics is local and I think if you feel we can still give contribution to the national effort, I may—at the last minute—consider running again in my district because that is my base and I will not be anywhere, if I were not an elected official, after my stint here. So I am considering going back to the district,” he told reporters in a briefing.
Ermita said Press Secretary Cerge Remonde could serve concurrently as executive secretary.
“If you recall, every time I leave, the most senior secretary here in the Office of the President who steps into my shoes is the press secretary,” Ermita said. “Of course, in the end it’s the President’s choice.”
15-17 officials running
Ermita said he and Gabriel Claudio, presidential political adviser, had counted 15 to 17 Cabinet men running for national or local positions next year.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III are running for senator, and are expected to be drafted by the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
Those eyeing congressional seats are Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Secretary Hermogenes Esperon of the Presidential Management Staff, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and Director General Augusto Syjuco of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, among others.
Secretary Raul Gonzalez, presidential chief legal counsel, has confirmed his plan to run for mayor in Iloilo. Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes are reportedly running for mayor in Manila and Taguig, respectively.
Undersecretaries stepping up
Ermita said that Ms Arroyo wouldn’t have a tough time looking for their replacements since she could always tap their undersecretaries to head the departments.
“All Cabinet positions and all agencies have effective undersecretaries and deputies. So that is the essence of government structure. Somebody is always ready to take over,” he said.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon, and Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. earlier quit the Cabinet to run for senator, mayor of Manila, and president, respectively.
Bayani Fernando, chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, a Cabinet-rank position, has also declared he will resign to seek the presidency. With a report from Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas
Source: http://politics.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&article=20091119-237133
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