DOJ's Devanadera quits post to prepare for May polls

A day after Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. resigned to focus on his campaign for the May elections, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera disclosed Thursday she has also quit her post. Devanadera, who is running for a congressional seat in Quezon province, said she talked to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday regarding her resignation, but said she may stay around at the DOJ to supervise the transition to her successor. “Ako ay nag-file na ng resignation as Secretary of Justice. Nakipag-usap ako kay Pangulo kahapon. Di ako pwede mag-resign at ngayon din aalis, I’m just preparing for my final exit (I filed my resignation as justice secretary. I talked to the President last Wednesday. I cannot resign immediately, but I am preparing for my final exit)," she said in an interview on dzXL radio. She did not give a date for her departure from the Justice Department. She and Andaya are among the Cabinet members affected by a Supreme Court ruling deeming appointed Cabinet members running in the May elections as resigned. She said that President Arroyo was “satisfied" with her resignation. “Sabi niya natutuwa siya. Ayaw din niya masabi ng tao ang myembro ng Cabinet, e nagsasamantala, hindi naman ganoon (She was satisfied with my decision. She did not want people to say Cabinet members are hanging on to their posts)," she said. Other Cabinet officials affected by the Supreme Court ruling include Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is running for Batangas congressman; Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Bohol; Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Pangasinan; and Secretary Augusto Syjuco of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Iloilo. The SC ruling said that appointed government officials running for elective posts in the May elections are now considered resigned. Also affected is Chief presidential legal adviser Raul Gonzalez, who is eying a mayoral seat in Iloilo City. As of this posting, Syjuco is in Iloilo on official business and has yet to issue a reaction on the SC ruling. TESDA executive director Cecile Gutierrez told GMANews.TV Syjuco is scheduled to arrive in Manila at 4 p.m. Yap, on the other hand, is out of the country and is attending the 15th Gulf Food Hotel and Trade Mission in Dubai. A "special order" he earlier issued indicated he is scheduled to return to the country on Sunday. Meanwhile, a staff of Esperon - who spoke on conditions of anonymity having no authority to speak to media - said the PMS head is just awaiting orders from Mrs. Arroyo for him to step down. "He serves at the pleasure of the President," the staff member said, adding that they have nevertheless started "winding down" their work at the PMS. The staff also said that Esperon respected the SC ruling and was willing to vacate his post to pursue his congressional bid. — with Mark D. Merueñas, LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV