Noynoy still has three more Cabinet positions to fill

President-elect Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III said on Thursday that he still has three more positions to fill in his Cabinet — including the top posts in the health and foreign affairs departments. On Thursday, Aquino said he was supposed to meet with candidates for these positions, but had to cancel his appointments since he wasn’t feeling well. “We’re supposed to meet them today, but I’m a bit under the weather today. We’re looking at the last candidates. Hopefully by Monday, it will all be finished," he told reporters late Thursday. One other position, which Aquino did not identify, remains vacant aside from the health and foreign affairs posts. The complete roster of Cabinet officials will be announced by June 29, according to Aquino. Likewise, the president-elect said that in case he is not able to fill in these Cabinet positions before that date, “caretakers" will be assigned to these posts. Aquino is reportedly planning to retain current Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo for another year, before assigning the position to his running mate Senator Manuel Roxas II once the year-long ban on appointing losing candidates in the election lapses. Reportedly, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral will also be retained, although Aquino is said to be also considering to reinstall former Health chief Jaime Galvez Tan to the position. Aquino is scheduled to take his oath of office on June 30, when he will officially replace outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. - ACC, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV