‘No jobs here at Malacañang’

No political debts paid here.

That might well be a sign posted at the gates of Malacañang as Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye dismissed anew rumors of changes in the Cabinet as mere speculation yesterday.

In a press briefing, Bunye took exception to news reports that Mrs. Arroyo might be bound to pay political debts with Cabinet and other government posts to allies who helped her win a fresh term.

"If you notice in the President’s statements — ‘To my adversaries, I appeal for unity, and to my political friends, I appeal for understanding and an open mind’ — I think this is the hint to all our allies that perhaps there may be decisions of the President that might not be totally to the liking of close friends and supporters of the President," he said.

Mrs. Arroyo earlier told reporters there will be no new faces in her Cabinet when she convenes her first Cabinet meeting on Day One of her new six-year term.

"No with the new and strong mandate that President Arroyo has, I think this will help her give right to make the tough decisions to do what is right and to solve the problems of the country," Bunye said. "The President is prepared to make tough decisions."

Earlier, Deputy Speaker Raul Gonzalez, who chaired the joint congressional committee that canvassed the presidential vote, told reporters that he had been asked by Mrs. Arroyo to be her new justice secretary.

Gonzalez ends his third and last term. His son ran for congressman in the last elections and won.

Another Arroyo ally, Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco had reportedly claimed that Mrs. Arroyo had asked him not to seek reelection because she wanted him to join her Cabinet.

Mrs. Arroyo’s running mate, vice president-elect Noli De Castro, will be given a post.

De Castro wants to head the Department of Social Welfare and Development but that post is held by one of the President’s closest advisers, Corazon Soliman.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo had said Mrs. Arroyo is currently evaluating the performance of Cabinet members.

All Cabinet members, including presidential advisers, earlier submitted their courtesy resignations. The entire Cabinet is co-terminus with the President – meaning their tenure expires at the same time Mrs. Arroyo’s does.

Saludo said the Palace has been receiving a lot of recommendations for appointments to certain government positions – not just in the Cabinet – from the administration’s political allies.

At least four Cabinet officials are rumored to be retained: Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Energy Secretary Vicente Perez, Tourism Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan and Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus.