Mar eases into job as chief of staff, bonds with Cabinet members

MANILA, Philippines - Former senator Manuel Roxas II is already blending with the Cabinet of President Aquino, that’s why he often accompanies the Chief Executive, a Palace official said yesterday.

“I think he’s easing himself into the job (presidential chief of staff). He was also invited here,” said Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications for Strategic Planning and Development Office.

Carandang said that the administrative order for the creation of the chief of staff has not yet been released.

Roxas had joined members of the Cabinet in yesterday’s launch of the nationwide fitness event dubbed as “Ehersisyo Pangkalusugan Para sa Lahat 2011” that was spearheaded by the Department of Health and was held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

The administrative order that will identify the functions of Roxas being the incoming presidential chief of staff is still being finalized, to avoid any duplication of functions now being handled by Executive Secretary (ES) Paquito Ochoa and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Julia Abad.

“The order is still being drafted by the PMS and will pass through the ES to be signed by the President. It’s simply an AO that defines his (Roxas’) functions and his role,” Carandang clarified.

Carandang, who belongs to the same Balay faction that Roxas heads, said the former senator who lost to Vice President Jejomar Binay would now be seen more often in official functions, especially because the one-year ban on political candidates being appointed to government posts has already lapsed.

“I guess you will see more of him when the AO is issued,” he told newsmen, with the clarification that Roxas will not be in the Palace on a daily basis. “So it’s just upon invitation. No, it’s not everyday that he gets invited. Only when he’s invited will he come.”