Noynoy on future Cabinet execs: A mix of the best, brightest

Former Arroyo Cabinet officials, influential lawyers, and even Sen. Manuel “Mar" Roxas II — if ever he loses in the vice-presidential race — may compose the official family of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III once his victory in the presidential race is formalized. "You will be surprised at the positions, there will be new faces, some young, some old, there will be a mix of the best and the brightest," Aquino said at a press briefing Thursday night. Aquino said he has plans for Roxas if Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, who is leading the vice-presidential race according to the partial and unofficial tally of more than 90 percent of election returns, wins as vice-president. He said without elaborating that he and Roxas, whom he said had helped him a lot during the campaign, had already entered into an agreement. “This is whether he wins or doesn’t win, meron kaming usapan (We have an agreement)," he said. He assured that he would observe the constitutional provision that bans the appointment of losing candidates within one year after the elections. “Kung dalawa kami nagtatrabaho doon mas mabilis (If the two of us will work together then we can make headway at a much faster rate as far as leading this country is concerned)," Aquino said. “The Firm" Aquino also said he is not closing the door on the possibility of appointing members of the influential Villaraza Marcelo Cruz and Angcangco Law Office — also known as "The Firm" — despite widespread observations of them being influence-peddlers. “Mahirap magsalita nang sarado. Merong nanindigan din naman doon (It’s hard to arrive at a conclusion this early. They also have principles)," he said. Former Solicitor-General Frank Chavez had earlier accused former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo and former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz — both partners of The Firm who served under the Arroyo administration — of jockeying for positions in the Aquino government. Search committee Aquino said he has a “search committee" in charge of the search for possible appointees in his administration. So far, former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, who also served under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is the only one sure to return to her old post. Aquino, however, said he has asked President Arroyo’s erstwhile peace adviser Teresita Deles to accept the briefing that will be given by Malacañang on the peace process. Both Soliman and Deles were members of the so-called Hyatt 10, which refers to the 10 Cabinet officials who resigned from the Arroyo government in 2005 during the height of accusations that President Arroyo rigged the results of the 2004 elections to favor her. Aquino, meanwhile, neither confirmed nor denied reports that he is considering lawyer Jojo Ochoa as executive secretary. “Jojo Ochoa has been my principal legal counsel from the time I entered public service, which was in 1998," said the former three-term congressman of Tarlac. - KBK, GMANews.TV