Noy to issue order creating chief of staff post for Mar

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will issue an administrative order creating the presidential chief of staff office for former Sen. Mar Roxas to be accommodated in the Cabinet when the ban on appointing losing candidates lapses tomorrow.

Secretary Edwin Lacierda revealed this to reporters at the Villamor Air Base, upon the arrival of President Aquino from Jakarta, Indonesia where he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit.

He said this post – previously held by now Chief Justice Renato Corona and veteran journalist Bobby Tiglao and later Mike Defensor during the previous administration – had apparently been “abolished,” which is why an administrative order is needed to revive the office.

“Maybe it should be defined what the role of the chief of staff would be. There should be a plantilla, a budget that’s why it should be studied closely. Likewise, a draft administrative order for that position will have to be made,” Lacierda said.

Roxas’ post would no longer need confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

“Again, I am not clear if it’s a Cabinet position,” he said. When asked if it will require CA appointment, he replied: “Most likely no, since it’s not a line agency.”

To date, this job has been tasked to Secretary Julia Abad of the Presidential Management Staff. The administrative order, according to Lacierda, will be handled by the office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

The spokesman could not answer when the administrative order will be issued. He nevertheless gave assurance that overlapping of functions will definitely be done away with once an administrative order is issued, so the Cabinet will be able to function as one solid group.

“That is precisely what they will have to define yet. The job description of chief of staff would have to be threshed out or fleshed out in an administrative order apart from the description given by the President. We still have to determine that,” Lacierda said.

The spokesman, who belongs to the same Balay faction that Roxas heads, said the former senator will be an “asset to the government.”

“Definitely, we look forward to the presence of Sen.Mar Roxas in government. Sen. Roxas has always been an asset to the government. He has also been an asset in the campaign. P-Noy has always planned a role for the senator. His idea of this chief of staff post is the manifestation of that intention of the President,” he said.

In an informal interview with Manila-based reporters who covered the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, President Aquino said he is still figuring out the “exact title” for Roxas as the ban on his appointment to a government post lapses.

Commission on Elections commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the ban will be lifted May 11, or exactly a year after the 2010 presidential elections.

Earlier, Aquino called his former running mate his “chief troubleshooter.” Aquino said the job of Roxas would have similarities to that of a chief of staff, but that he would like to give Roxas a Cabinet rank with a tougher job.

“Mar will be getting something that will be even more demanding,” he said.

“He’s somebody who can (do things for me). For example, I’ll meet with a certain group and unfortunately, there are so many groups claiming my time.” – With Christina Mendez