Teodoro to resign Nov 16; Palace readies replacement

Next Sunday, November 15, will be the last day of work for administration standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as Defense Secretary, even as Malacañang said it is ready to replace him. A report on government-run dzRB radio said Teodoro made the announcement at an ambush interview shortly before a speaking engagement in Baguio City. In Malacañang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde on Sunday said they have prepared replacements not only for Teodoro but also for other Cabinet members who may quit because they will run in 2010. “Meron na kaming napag-usapan pero hanggang sa ma-appoint natin, hindi pa final yan. Handa na tayong palitan ang member ng Cabinet na aalis for one reason or another (We have discussed replacements for Teodoro but until the appointment is announced, the decisions are not final. We have discussed the matter and we are ready to replace any Cabinet member who will leave for one reason or another)," Remonde said on dzRB radio. The Palace has already replaced Cabinet members who resigned from their posts so they can run in the 2010 elections. Among those who had resigned and were replaced were Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (Public Works, replaced with Victor Domingo); Avelino Razon Jr. (presidential peace process adviser, replaced with Annabelle Abaya); Ralph Recto (National Economic and Development Authority, replaced with Augusto Santos); and Eduardo Manzano (Optical Media Board Chairman, replaced with Ronnie Ricketts). Ebdane is running for president while Razon is running for Manila mayor. Recto and Manzano are running for senator. On the other hand, Secretary Angelo Reyes (Energy) is reportedly running for Taguig City mayor, while Jose Atienza Jr. (Environment) has the endorsement of pro-life Church groups to run for president. But Remonde indicated there will not be many new faces in the Cabinet, saying they will try to get replacements from within the ranks of the executive department. “Not necessarily bagong mukha. (It is) practical na as much as possible, we get in the ranks lang para di kailangan ang adjustment (Changes in the Cabinet will not necessarily mean new faces. It is practical that as much as possible, we get those from the ranks so there will be no need for adjustment)," he said. Remonde said that in his case, he plans to stay on in the Cabinet as he has settled down to his job as Press Secretary. “I have decided to serve the President until end of her term as Press Secretary if she still wants me, if she still wants to give me another post request ko na dito ako as Press Secretary (I will request to remain as Press Secretary)," he added. Puno Remonde declined to comment on reports that Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno will quit the Cabinet even if he has backed out of the race for vice president. He said that as of late Friday, Puno was in Mindanao to supervise police operations for the rescue of abducted Irish priest Michael Sinnott. Puno had accused the Moro Islamic Liberation Front of abducting Sinnott. The MILF had denied the allegation and demanded a retraction. As far as I know, he’s still very active in performing his function as Secretary of Interior and Local Government, Remonde said. Atienza Remonde similarly declined to comment on reports that some Catholic bishops want Atienza to run for president because of Atienza’s pro-life stance. Some sectors see Atienza, a political ally of Mrs. Arroyo, as a possible threat to Teodoro as administration candidate. Atienza, however, is allied with the Liberal Party. “I don’t want to see any ill motive. Whether we like it or not, Sec. Atienza is one of the more prominent public servants in our country especially before as mayor of Manila," Remonde said. But he also took a dig at Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno Simeon Aquino III, who has been in favor of the reproductive health bill,which promotes, among others, the use of artificial methods in family planning. The Catholic Church has lobbied strongly against the RH bill. "If ever there is a move to have Atienza run for president I’d rather see it as a strong message from the Church that they don’t want candidates like Noynoy who are identified with the RH bill," Remonde said. - GMANews.TV