Defensor, Pagdanganan to resign, run in 2007 polls

Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor and Philippine International Trading Corp. chairman Roberto Pagdanganan are resigning from their posts to prepare for the coming May elections.

Defensor will run for the Senate, while Pagdanganan will run for governor of Bulacan again.

Defensor said he might tender his resignation by January or February to prepare for his candidacy.

Pagdanganan told The STAR he would tender his resignation upon filing of his certificate of candidacy on March 29 next year, the deadline for candidates for local elective posts.

Defensor said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio asked him to stay a little longer as Mrs. Arroyo’s chief of staff while the administration coalition tries to finalize its senatorial slate.

"Yes, I will resign," he said. "But they (Ermita and Claudio) told me to wait until the actual filing of candidacy is near."

Ermita said he talked to Defensor and asked him to assess whether it would be better for him to keep his position to be able to move around the country with Mrs. Arroyo, or resign early so he could better prepare for his candidacy.

Defensor said he would continue to discuss the matter with Mrs. Arroyo.

Ermita said Claudio has already prepared a list of possible administration candidates, which included some Cabinet members.

"I saw my name in the list, but I told Gabby (Claudio) to remove it because I’m not interested," he said.

Most of those being considered for the administration’s senatorial lineup are from the House of Representatives who are seasoned politicians, he added.

Ermita said he was not aware of rumors that he might be replaced by Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

It has nothing to do with his supposed political plans because he did not have any, he added.

Ermita said he was not at liberty to disclose the names of the other Cabinet members in the list because he had not yet talked to them.

"I’m not sure if they have made a final decision," he said.

Last Tuesday, Ermita said he was able to talk with Pagdanganan, who confirmed his plans to run for Bulacan governor.

"It follows he (Pagdanganan) would have to submit his resignation in due time for him to be able to prepare for the election, and at the same time for the President to be able to choose a replacement," he said.

Ermita said a Cabinet revamp was normal at the start of a new year since this was the time Mrs. Arroyo "does a re-thinking."

"As President, only she has the authority to choose the Cabinet members who can help her run the government," he said. — Aurea Calica