Zamora, Puno go on leave

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora and Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. have both gone on leave to prepare for next year’s congressional elections.

Zamora recommended to President Estrada that Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Ramon Cardenas be named acting executive secretary, while Press Undersecretary Mike Toledo was recommended by Puno to stand in for him.

Among Zamora’s possible replacements are Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara, Finance Secretary Jose Pardo, Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Chief Presidential Counsel and Presidential Commission on Good Government Chairman Magdangal Elma.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive said yesterday he is having a hard time deciding whether to allow Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim to resign to run for an elective post next year.

During Lim’s 71st birthday celebration in Tondo, Manila yesterday, Mr. Estrada said the interior secretary is one of the most important members of the Cabinet.

"I will have to study that because, in truth, he (Lim) is one of my important Cabinet members," he said.

The President said Lim has been topping all government officials in performance and approval ratings in all opinion surveys conducted nationwide.

The deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy is Feb. 14 next year. –Marichu Villanueva