Lack of Capampangans in new Cabinet deplored

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Some of President Arroyo’s cabalen seem disappointed with her failure to name a provincemate to a line agency in her new Cabinet.

They said they expected her to fulfill the promise of her late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, to give Pampanga some preference when he ran for a second term in 1961.

"We Capampangans recall the late President’s promise for a cadwang baldug or second installment," said Sudan Pineda, who chairs Ing Makababaing Aksyon Foundation, a women’s rights group based in Angeles City.

Pineda recalled that during Macapagal’s first term from 1957 to 1961, he failed to give Pampanga special attention in government projects.

But Macapagal, she said, promised to do so when he campaigned for a second term. Macapagal, however, lost to former President Marcos who initiated many projects in his home-province of Ilocos Norte.

Last week, the President announced new appointees to her Cabinet with National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Edgardo Pamintuan, former mayor of Angeles City, as the only Capampangan to be appointed presidential adviser on constituencies, a Cabinet-rank position.

"Even his assignment seems to be unclear and sounds like a mere accommodation," Pineda said.

She said the lack of Capampangans in the new Cabinet of Mrs. Arroyo "seems to give the impression that Pampanga is short of talented and qualified people to be of help in her full-term administration."

Pineda recalled that the elder Macapagal had several Capampangans in his Cabinet.

Angelo Lopez Jr., chairman of the Capampangan Youth Movement, echoed Pineda’s sentiment.

"It seems unfair to Capampangans who delivered the most votes, percentage-wise, for the President and the rest of her ticket," he said.

"We received even better treatment from former President Marcos, an Ilocano, who appointed a number of Capampangans to premier posts in his Cabinet, notably Gerry Sicat, Estelito Mendoza, Vicente Abad Santos, Troadio Quiazon and Ricardo Puno, among others," Lopez said.