Noynoy warned vs appointing Cruz, Marcelo to Cabinet

A former Cabinet official in the Aquino administration has warned leading presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III against giving two former Arroyo Cabinet officials positions in his official family. A report by Sandra Aguinaldo on GMA News' "24 Oras" said these erstwhile Arroyo Cabinet officials were former Defense secretary Avelino Cruz and former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo. In the report, former Solicitor General Frank Chavez said Cruz is eyeing the Justice secretary post while Marcelo wants to be the head of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the eight-man body constitutionally mandated to screen nominees for vacant judicial positions. Chavez said the two — both members of the influential Villaraza, Marcelo, Cruz and Angcangco Law Office, also known as "The Firm" — are using the controversial appointment of Chief Justice Renato Corona to further their ambitions.

"They are so noisy, demanding that the Supreme Court should've not appointed a new chief justice. They're doing that because they're pushing for one of the founders of their firm," Chavez said, referring to Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, a contender for the chief justice post who was once part of "The Firm." Both Cruz and Marcelo served under the current administration but withdrew their support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005 during the height of allegations that she rigged the results of the 2004 elections. Marcelo denied Chavez's claim, saying he is too busy with the firm to accept a position in the Cabinet. "I want to help, but I can help as a private citizen," he said. The "24 Oras" report said Marcelo has admitted that he is not in favor of Corona's appointment, saying the Supreme Court committed a "supreme mistake" when it allowed President Arroyo to make the appointment during the election season. The high court in March ruled the election ban on appointments did not cover the chief justice post. GMA News tried contacting Cruz for his comment, but he was not answering his phone. - KBK, GMANews.TV