Sugar body head quits to run for Negros Occidental governor

Another Arroyo government official seeking an elective post in the May elections is quitting his post effective March 15. Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Rafael Coscolluela will retire after turning 63 last Feb. 21, Negros news site Visayan Daily Star reported Friday. Coscolluela informed the SRA Thursday of his plan to retire, and submitted a letter to the effect before the Supreme Court ruled that appointed officials running in the 2010 elections are deemed resigned. Coscolluela, a former Negros Occidental governor, was appointed to the SRA on September 1, 2007. He is planning to run for the same position in the May polls. Meanwhile, with four months left before her term ends, President Arroyo is likely to — but will not automatically — appoint “insiders" or career officials to replace the Cabinet members who quit from their posts to run in the May elections. Mrs. Arroyo may need some time to talk to the prospective replacements and “persuade" them to accept the posts, deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar also said Friday. “That is also a possibility. That (option) is available kay Pangulo, whether or not may campaign period, may dahilan bakit umaalis ang Cabinet members, isa yan sa option na titingnan niya (That is a possibility. That option is available to the President. Cabinet members leave for one reason or another, not necessarily to campaign. So appointing insiders and career officials is always an option)," Olivar said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He declined to give a specific date on when Mrs. Arroyo will announce her choices, saying she will do so “as soon as she can." “Tungkulin ng pangulo iharap ang magpili ng kapalit sa aalis na member ng Cabinet sa lalong madaling panahon para makapagpatuloy itong operasyon ng ahensyang iniwanan (It is the president’s duty to choose replacements for Cabinet members soonest, so government operations will continue unhampered)," he said. Olivar, on the other hand, refused to comment on reports that Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza may replace Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. “May narinig akong ganyan (I have heard of such reports)," he would only say. On Thursday, Ermita said he, justice secretary Agnes Devanadera and Presidential Management Staff head Hermogenes Esperon Jr. have tendered their resignations. Ermita will run for Batangas congressman, while Devanadera will run for Quezon congresswoman. Esperon will run for Pangasinan congressman. Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., who will run as congressman of Camarines Sur, announced his resignation Wednesday. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Augusto Syjuco Jr., who will run for Congress in Iloilo, also expressed his intention to vacate his post, Ermita said. - GMANews.TV