Cabinet revamp set in May GMA

CEBU CITY – President Arroyo has confirmed a revamp in her Cabinet next month, ending weeks of speculation over possible changes in the official family.

Mrs. Arroyo confirmed the shakeup during a dinner with reporters at the Malacañang sa Sugbu here Monday night but she refused to give details.

“Yes,” she replied when asked whether there would be a reshuffle in the Cabinet.

When pressed for details, she laughed and said, “Secret. No more, no more.”

When asked about reports that Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro would be moving to the Department of Justice, she said: “All speculation.”

A Palace official who accompanied the President on her three-day out-of town trip to promote the roll-on, roll-off transportation system, joked that many Cabinet members “will have sleepless nights because of her announcement.” This would be the first major revamp in the Cabinet this year.

The forthcoming lifting of the one-year ban on the appointment to government posts of losing senatorial candidates may have sparked the rumors of revamp.

Reportedly being considered for a Cabinet position was former Sen. Ralph Recto, whose wife, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, earlier told reporters that her husband is being groomed to be the next finance chief to replace Margarito Teves.

Also reportedly being eyed for a Cabinet post was former Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, who now sits in the board of Petron Corp.

Also triggering the rumors of a revamp was the impending retirement of Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on May 9. He is reportedly being eyed to be the next defense secretary to replace Teodoro.

Teodoro is reportedly going to head the Department of Justice. There were also reports that Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita would be appointed ambassador to the United States.

Ermita said it is possible that some administration senatorial candidates would be given Cabinet posts.

He said loyalty and performance are the main factors in Mrs. Arroyo’s decision to sack or retain officials even as he stressed that he was not aware of any official who may be removed.

“The President knows everything about a Cabinet official’s performance and she has the prerogative to make the Cabinet more dynamic,” Ermita told reporters prior to attending the Cabinet meeting aboard a RO-RO vessel in Jagna, Bohol.

Accurate

Meanwhile, Gonzalez said he “assumes as accurate” the President’s statement regarding a revamp.

“I have not sat in any Cabinet meeting where a Cabinet revamp has been discussed. I have sat in some meetings where the President has scolded some people. The President is in possession of the best information  available insofar as members of the Cabinet are concerned. She thinks its time for change,” he said.

“I was talking to Secretary Ermita and he said he does not know about it also. But I have read on television that the President has announced in Cebu that there will be a revamp next month. So we will assume that that announcement is accurate,” he said. “As long as those who will be revamped will not join Hyatt 10 that is OK,” Gonzalez

told reporters referring to former administration officials who resigned to join the chorus of people demanding Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation.

Gonzalez said that there is nothing unnatural about a Cabinet revamp and that members of the Cabinet are expected to be ready to transfer to any posts if so desired by the president.

“That is exclusive for the President that there will be a revamp. All the members of Cabinet and all the immediate bureaucracy in Malacanang should abide by that,” the DOJ chief said.

“All the officials who belong to the policy determining, highly technical position will always be subject to a revamp. The only people who will be exempted there will be the classified employees under the civil service,” he said. “So one accepts a position in this category should always be ready to accept changes,” he said.

He also said he does not know if Teodoro will take over his post at the DOJ.

He said Esperon’s coming retirement has sparked many rumors including one that says former Rep. Prospero Pichay will be the next executive secretary.

However, Gonzalez was quick to add that Teodoro could very well fill in his shoes at the DOJ.

“He is a lawyer. He is a good lawyer,” he said.

Gonzalez said he is ready to accept a new post as long as he is physically qualified for it.

“If I’m offered a position that I could not handle physically for example, I would refuse it,” he said. “I don’t believe the President will ask you to take over a position that she thinks you are not qualified. That would be bad for her own administration,” he said.   — With Mike Frialde