Maceda declines seat in SMC board

Former ambassador to the US Ernesto Maceda said yesterday he turned down President Arroyo’s offer for him to take a seat in the board of directors of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) as a government nominee.

In a press statement, Maceda said he believes Mrs. Arroyo’s offer was a "sincere gesture of reconciliation" and he sincerely thanks her for it.

"However, as soon as I was informed of Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Haydee Yorac’s objections to the presidential directive, I immediately sent word that I am withdrawing my acceptance of the same," Maceda’s brief statement said.

The government currently has seven seats in the 15-member SMC board, including one each for the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.

Malacañang obviously approached with caution the aborted plan to appoint Maceda to the SMC board.

PCGG Commissioner Vyva Aguirre said that Malacañang’s move sometime last March to seek their comment on the planned appointment of Maceda was the first time they were consulted on the appointment of a nominee to a PCGG-sequestered company.

"It was the first time it happened," Aguirre told a press briefing yesterday.

Aguirre said that usually they would receive only a "desire letter" directly from the Office of the President naming an appointee to a seat of a sequestered company, which is like an actual appointment since it was personally signed by the President herself or the Executive Secretary.

However, in Maceda’s case, they received an official communication from the Presidential Search Committee seeking their comment on the proposed appointment.

Aguirre revealed that upon learning of Malacañang’s communication, Yorac reacted "very violently" and immediately ordered the crafting of a reply letter voicing strong opposition to the appointment. — With Paolo Romero, Marichu Villanueva