Palace ready to replace officials quitting for 2010 campaigns
Malacañang is ready to replace appointive officials, particularly Cabinet members, who will likely resign in the coming weeks to focus on their respective electoral campaigns for the May 2010 polls. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde made the statement Tuesday, as the Palace prepares for the coming year when those running for elective posts are expected to go all-out in their campaigns. Last November 25, the Supreme Court issued a resolution effectively allowing "premature" campaigning. It reversed its decision dated September 11, 2009 that criminalizes any political activities done before the start of the official campaign period--February 9 to May 8 for candidates running for national positions, and March 26 to May 8 for those running for local positions. Remonde said the Palace had come up with names of possible replacements prior to the high court's November 25 decision in anticipation of the resignation of appointive officials gunning for elective posts. "Ready na po kami sa mga replacements anytime itong mga appointive officials especially Cabinet members will concentrate on their campaigns," Remonde said in a radio interview. Cabinet members who already resigned and have been replaced include Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro (Defense Secretary, replaced by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales); Ralph Recto (Socioeconomic Planning secretary, replaced by Augusto Santos) who is eyeing a return to the Senate; and Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (replaced by Victor Domingo) who is running for Zambales governor. Last Monday, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza resigned from his post to concentrate on his Manila mayoralty bid. Environment Undersecretary Eleazar Quinto is currently acting as officer-in-charge of the department, according to Remonde. Other Cabinet officials who have filed their certificates of candidacy for congressional posts are Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita (Batangas, 1st District), Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera (Quezon, 1st District), Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap (Bohol, 3rd District). Remonde said the replacements are either those who have long been working in the respective departments or "outsiders" knowledgeable in the field. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself is running for congresswoman of Pampanga's second district. Despite this, her political spokesman Romulo Macalintal said Mrs. Arroyo will not be resigning from the presidency. - LBG, GMANews.TV