Aquino calls on Roxas, Escudero to work together

MANILA, Philippines - President-elect Benigno Aquino III called yesterday on the camp of his running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas II and Sen. Francis Escudero to start working together for the sake of the nation.

“Instead of concentrating on the disagreements, why not on what we agree on?” he said.

“That way we will be able to attend early to those who have been pinning their hopes on us and we can easily resolve what burdens the nation.”

Aquino said Roxas’s planned electoral protest against vice president-elect Jejomar Binay should not be an issue.

“It would not block their common goals for the people,” he added.

Escudero, who had worked for Binay’s election, and former education secretary Florencio Abad, a supporter of Roxas, were seen entering the Aquino home on Times Street in Quezon City yesterday.

Incoming Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. also arrived, along with Aquino’s relative and media coordinator, Maria Montelibano.

Aquino said Abad is part of the Liberal Party mechanism.

“I’m considering (him) for one position which I’m not at liberty to tell you about because I haven’t talked to him about that particular assignment,” he said.

Aquino said Escudero asked for a meeting, but that he did not know the agenda.

“He helped me in my campaign also,” he said.

“He is my friend, he is my colleague, we’ve been together ever since I joined them in the impeachment case (against President Arroyo) in 2005.”

We found common cause in all issues except, of course, with the candidacy of my partner Mar Roxas.

Aquino said he could separately meet the people behind him and the reconciliation aspect would have to be part of his agenda to get things going faster.

“I have to fill up the 25 Cabinet positions, we have to vet their background to make sure that we make the right choices,” he said.

Aquino said one of the most important positions that he would have to decide on would be the secretary of Justice.

“He would likely appoint a new face at the DOJ,” he added.

“He had received good news that three individuals he personally chose for various positions had accepted but only asked for some time to prepare and condition their families on what to expect,” Aquino said.

Aquino to talk to Binay

Aquino will talk to Binay regarding the best position for the vice president-elect.

“Well have to level off,” he said.

“What he wants, what can be offered, his competence, what I need.”

Aquino said while Binay could freely voice his preference, he would have the last say as president.

“That’s his right as a citizen, to express his opinion,” he said.

“But at the end of the day, it’s my Cabinet. I’m responsible for how it performs. And I think I should be accorded the right to choose who I want to serve as my alter-ego.”

Carandang considered for Palace job

Aquino is considering broadcaster Ricky Carandang to be part of a media group that would be responsible for good communications between Malacañang and the people.

“He might have a (part) in the media group,” he said.

“We really want to engage the citizenry and part of that is a good communications strategy.”

Aquino said he would like to put up a strong communications group because he did not want to alienate the people from Malacañang.

“What’s important is for us to be able to involve the people in governance. That is what we promised during the campaign.”

“He would not want to rush the selection of his Cabinet members but would most likely announce their names before his inauguration on June 30,” Aquino said.

Singer Jim Paredes was also being rumored to be the next tourism secretary, while former Finance secretary Cesar Purisima would reportedly get back his post.

Palace to Aquino: Keep household staff

Malacañang has asked the incoming Aquino administration to consider keeping the Palace household staff, a lot of whom have been around since the first Aquino and Marcos years.

Presidential Management Staff director general Elena Bautista-Horn noted that a lot of the household staff of Malacañang are very anxious because of the pronouncements made by the incoming administration about implementing wholesale changes in the bureaucracy.

“We hope they would also be given a chance because they would not have survived three presidents some of them even five presidents if they weren’t doing their job properly,” she said.

“If they were playing politics or something, they would not have lasted this long. We hope the incoming administration could also look at the merits of their performance.”

“The cooks, waiters and other housekeeping personnel are all very experienced and trained on proper decorum in Malacañang,” Bautista-Horn said.

After holding a press briefing yesterday, Bautista-Horn gave a tour of the kitchen of the Premier Guest House where the executive secretary holds office and where some functions are held.

Two of the kitchen staff agreed to be interviewed.

Elmer Castillo and Bernard Solmuro were both worried about losing their jobs after serving in Malacañang for a significant part of their lives.

Castillo, a supervisor, has been in the Palace for 18 years.

He recalls serving the late President Corazon Aquino, who lived close to the Palace grounds.

The two admitted that the same anxiety grips the household staff after every presidential election because they are all co-terminus with the incumbent president.