Foreign dignitaries congratulate Noynoy

Congress has yet to start canvassing the votes for president and vice-president, but Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, the leading presidential aspirant in unofficial tallies, is already getting congratulatory letters from foreign dignitaries. In a letter posted on Noypipol, Aquino's official blog site, Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao said China is looking forward to strengthening its ties with the Philippines under Aquino's administration. "China, bound to the Philippines through ties of history and friendship, will be reenergized to work with your focused and capable leadership aimed at advancing China-Philippines strategic relationship," the Ambassador wrote. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in a note coursed through the Spanish Embassy, wished Aquino well on his six-year term. "I wish you all the success during your presidential term and at the same time, I want to convey to you my conviction that relations between Spain and the Philippines will continue to increase in all fields," Zapatero said. Also posted on Aquino's blog site are letters of congratulation from Spanish Ambassador Luis Arias Romero, Japan's Tokyo City governor Shintaro Ishihara, and Korea's Hannam University President Hyungtae Kim.

Still no Obama US Ambassador Harry Thomas and other US diplomats paid Aquino a visit on Friday, but US President Barack Obama has yet to send him official communication. "I think President Obama is only observing the normal protocol. He will wait for Sen. Aquino to be proclaimed officially and then he might decide to send his official congratulatory note," Aquino's campaign spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an interview aired over “24 Oras" Sunday. Search not yet over As this developed, Lacierda said the selection committee formed by Aquino continues to search for personalities who may be appointed members of the Cabinet. On Saturday, Aquino personally offered retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno the position of Justice secretary. Puno, however, declined, saying he prefers to live as a private citizen after years of public service. “It's not only Justice Puno. There are many legal luminaries in and out of the Judiciary that he (Aquino) can talk to and recommend," Lacierda said. Meanwhile, Aquino's camp declined to confirm reports that his close friend and Quezon City Administrator Paquito Ochoa Jr. may possibly be the next executive secretary. Ochoa is a nephew of incoming Quezon City's fourth district Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and a law partner of Louise Araneta-Marcos, wife of Senator-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He also helped form PiNoy Lawyers, a group of some 200 lawyers who served as the legal arm of the Liberal Party tandem of Aquino and Sen. Manuel “Mar" Roxas II. Lacierda said while they are drawing a shortlist of names to fill Aquino's Cabinet, their attention is focused on the national canvassing of votes for president and vice-president in Congress starting Tuesday.- KBK, GMANews.TV