All the president’s men (and women)

President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III promised a Cabinet filled with "the best and the brightest" composed of the young and the experienced, the expert and the idealist. Most of the chosen ones have had extensive government experience. Five are members of the Hyatt 10, a group of high-ranking government officials who resigned from the Arroyo administration at the height of the Hello Garci scandal in 2005 (they announced their resignation at the Hyatt hotel in Manila). At least six served under the administration of Aquino's mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino. A few of the names, such as Dinky Soliman and Teresita Deles, had been announced by Aquino informally weeks ago. Others were a complete surprise to Aquino watchers, including DENR Undersecretary Ramon Paje who will head his department after weeks of speculation that the DENR's current head and the long-time chief of mining, Horace Ramos, would continue as secretary. Here are some of the Aquino Cabinet appointees the President-elect announced Tuesday: Malacañang Executive Secretary Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr. FROM QUEZON CITY TO MALACAÑANG. As a lawyer, Ochoa has acted as Noynoy's legal adviser ever since Aquino entered public service as Tarlac congressman in 1998. He also served as administrator of Quezon City, the most populated city in the country, for nine years. His ties with Aquino: Ochoa's father, a former mayor of Pulilan, Bulacan, was a friend of Noynoy's father, the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. Noynoy seems to trust Ochoa so much that he also considered Ochoa for the position of Justice Secretary. Other info: Will Ochoa be the "little president," as executive secretaries are perceived to be? Ochoa said he will only be advising Noynoy, and that he will keep a low profile "so the real boss gets to be in the limelight." Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda CAMPAIGN SPOKESMAN MOVES TO MALACAÑANG. As the mouthpiece of Aquino, Lacierda first stepped into the limelight when the controversial Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita was raised as an issue against Aquino at the height of the presidential campaign. His ties with Aquino: Lacierda was a member of the anti-Arroyo Black and White Movement, which had many members that also supported Aquino. For the May elections, he was also part of the NoyMar campaign executive committee. Other info: A practicing lawyer since 1990, he was the legal counsel of ZTE-NBN deal star witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr. when the latter came out to testify against those involved in the allegedly corruption-ridden deal. He also taught constitutional law at the Far Eastern University's Institute of Law and at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Julia Abad FROM CHIEF OF STAFF TO PMS HEAD. Abad was Aquino's chief of staff in the Senate, and therefore was a fixture in the campaign. She is also part of the team that oversaw the transition between the Arroyo government and the Aquino administration. Her ties with Aquino: Her parents both wield influence in the Liberal Party, where Aquino is a member. Her father is former education secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad, the incoming budget secretary. Her mother, former Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad, is the vice president of LP think-tank National Institute for Policy Studies, which formulated many of Aquino's proposed reforms. Other info: Abad was a Fulbright scholar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she completed a two-year Masters in Public Policy program. Abad also became an intern at the National Democratic Institute, the think-tank of the US Democrats, in Washington DC. Social services Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman RETURNING TO THE DSWD. Soliman served as DSWD secretary from 2001 to 2005. In July 2005, Soliman and nine other members of the Cabinet resigned over the Hello Garci scandal; the group became known as the Hyatt 10, after the hotel where they held the press conference announcing their withdrawal of support for Mrs. Arroyo. Her ties with Aquino: She belongs to both the Hyatt 10 and the Black and White Movement, which supported the Aquino-Roxas tandem. She was also part of the NoyMar campaign executive committee. Other info: Soliman was known to be very close to Mrs. Arroyo prior to her resignation. Shortly after Mrs. Arroyo delivered her "I am sorry" speech, Soliman handed out photocopied sheets containing the lyrics of "If We Hold On Together" and joined the rest of Arroyo’s official family in singing what was thought to be a song signifying their unity amid the controversy. She has a masters degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. She is a recipient of numerous awards and citations in the field of social work and community development. Department of Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. Luistro was president of the De La Salle University when he was tapped to implement Noynoy's plans to improve basic education. The appointment of a member of the religious community has raised questions on what will happen to the push for reproductive health education in schools. Luistro has said he will review the current sex education program of the DepEd. His ties with Aquino: Luistro is close to the Aquino family. The wake of Noynoy's mother, former president Corazon Aquino, was held at the La Salle Greenhills gymnasium. Other info: In 2005, Luistro joined calls for Mrs. Arroyo's resignation over the Hello Garci scandal. He also supported ZTE-NBN whistleblower Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr., who testified that there was massive corruption in the telecommunications deal. Arroyo eventually scrapped the transaction. The LSGH campus shelters Lozada to this day. Economic services Department of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima RETURNING TO THE DOF. Purisima became Finance secretary in 2000, and concurrent Trade secretary in 2004. He held both posts until 2005, when he and the rest of the Hyatt 10 resigned from the Arroyo administration at the height of the Hello Garci scandal. His ties with Aquino: Like many Hyatt 10 members, Purisima was a member of the NoyMar campaign executive committee, but he took his involvement a step further by contributing P10 million to Noynoy's campaign funds. Other info: An accountant by profession, Purisima was a corporate honcho before entering government service. He was chairman and managing partner of SGV & Co., which he served for over two decades, and a member of the Global Executive Board and Global Practice Council of the Ernst & Young accounting firm. Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Greg Domingo CORPORATE BIGWIG. Domingo served as DTI undersecretary in the earlier part of the Arroyo administration, and also as managing head of the Board of Investments. Ties with Aquino: He was DTI undersecretary when Aquino's defeated running mate Mar Roxas was secretary of the department. Other info: Domingo is currently an executive director of SM Investments Corp. He previously served as president of Carmelray-JTCI Corporation, and as managing director of Chemical Bank in New York and Chase Manhattan Bank in Manila. He holds a master’s degree in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson BIGGER PROJECTS. Singson is not a newbie in handling infrastructure projects, having served as chairman of the government-owned Bases Conversion Development Authority which oversaw projects like the conversion of former military bases in Clark in Pampanga, Subic in Zambales, John Hay in Baguio City, Poro Point in La Union and Fort Bonifacio in Taguig. His ties with Aquino. Among the projects he administered as BCDA chairman was the construction of the controversial Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), which has a Hacienda Luisita interchange. Farmer groups and other critics of the Cojuangcos accuse the clan of having benefited from the construction of the SCTEx exit within their property. Other info: Singson is the president and chief executive officer of Maynilad, the largest water concessionaire in the Philippines. He is a distant relative of re-elected Ilocos Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, an Arroyo ally. Department of Transportation and Communications Jose "Ping" De Jesus FROM DPWH TO DOTC. De Jesus is the current chief operating officer of Meralco, the country's largest power distributor. But he also has extensive experience in the government, having served as DPWH secretary in the administrations of Cory Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos. His ties with Aquino: He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation and the Benigno S. Aquino Foundation. In 1992, he was conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor, with the rank of Commander, by Mrs. Aquino. Other info: Interviewed by reporters after visiting Noynoy in his Times Street home weeks before the inauguration, De Jesus said he was willing to give up his corporate salary and return to government service, which offers significantly lower remuneration. Department of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras CORPORATE BIGWIG. Almendras is a top executive in some of the country's biggest companies. He is currently president of Manila Water Co. and managing director of Ayala Land Inc. His ties with Aquino: Noynoy Aquino was his classmate when he took his undergraduate course in business management at the Ateneo de Manila University. Other info: Almendras completed the Strategic Business Economics Program of the University of Asia and the Pacific. He was previously president and CEO of two listed companies managed by the Ayala Land Group, Cebu Holdings, Inc. and Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim PALAWAN TOURISM VETERAN. Lim is the executive director of the Makati Business Club, whose members are composed of chief executive officers (CEOs) or ranking officials of the Philippines' largest corporations. He served as long-time president of Ten Knots Corporation, which operates the El Nido resorts in northern Palawan, until 2006. He is also the founding president of the Palawan Tourism Council. His ties with Aquino: An MBC survey during the campaign period showed Noynoy as the top choice of many its members. One of the members of the MBC's Board of Trustees, Cesar Purisima, was part of the NoyMar campaign executive committee. Other info: The MBC takes a stand on political issues from time to time. At the height of the NBN-ZTE controversy, for example, the MBC called for the resignation of Lito Atienza and Romulo Neri for supposedly blocking whistleblower Jun Lozada from testifying at a Senate hearing. He is the brother of veteran broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro (Cecilia Lim Lazaro). Governance Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima FEISTY LAWYER. An election lawyer, De Lima was appointed to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on May 7, 2008. Even though she received her appointment to the seven-year term from Mrs. Arroyo, De Lima made several recommendations to prosecute government and police officials under the Arroyo administration. However, not many cases prospered as the CHR has only recommendatory powers, a situation that De Lima may rectify at the DOJ, where she can chase big criminals all the way to jail. Her ties with Aquino: De Lima was reportedly recommended by retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno to the DOJ after Puno refused Aquino's offer for him to head the department. Other info: De Lima was previously the election lawyer of losing senatorial candidate Koko Pimentel and Isabela Governor Grace Padaca. She graduated from the San Beda College of Law in 1985 and placed eighth in the 1985 bar exams. She taught law in San Beda from 1986 to 1994, and again from 2006 to 2007. Department of National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin CORY'S DEFENDER. Gazmin headed the Presidential Security Group during the first half of Cory's administration. As PSG commander from 1986 to 1989, he defended her government from several coup attempts by military renegades. Gazmin eventually became Army chief during the Estrada administration. His ties with Aquino: Gazmin was in charge of the Laur, Nueva Ecija camp where Noynoy's father Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and former Senator Jose "Pepe" Diokno were kept in solitary confinement during the Martial Law regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Other info: Gazmin graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1968. In February 2009, six months before Cory died, Philippine star columnist Joanna Rae Ramirez wrote that Gazmin "told prisoner Ninoy that he couldn’t set him free, but he would do his best to make his stay in the military prison as humane as possible... After EDSA, someone handed an envelop to Cory with the card of Gazmin inside — just in case she needed his help. So she called him and entrusted her life to him just like Ninoy did a decade before." Department of Budget and Management Florencio "Butch" Abad JACK OF ALL TRADES. Abad was a four-term congressman of Batanes and briefly held the DAR portfolio during Mrs. Aquino's administration. He was education secretary when he resigned from the Arroyo administration along with nine other Cabinet officials over the Hello Garci scandal, and has since become one of Mrs. Arroyo's staunchest critics. His ties with Aquino: Abad was the LP's overall campaign manager in the recently concluded May 10 elections. He was later named a member of the team that oversaw the transition between the Arroyo government and the Aquino administration along with his daughter Julia, who is now the presidential management head. Other info: Abad's parents both served as Batanes representatives in the House. Abad graduated from the Ateneo de Manila School of Law and passed the bar exam, and later took up masters in public administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo RETAINED IN THE DFA. Romulo, one of two Arroyo Cabinet members who retained their posts, was the only Arroyo Cabinet member to openly express support for Noynoy during the election period. His ties with Aquino. Romulo is known as a close friend of the Aquino family. He served as budget secretary, chair of the Development Budget Coordinating Committee, and member of the Monetary Board during Cory Aquino's administration. Other info: Romulo has extensive experience in government. He was senator in the 8th to 10th Congress and authored major laws such as the creation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Veterans Act. He served as Mrs. Arroyo's finance secretary in 2001 before he was moved to the DFA. Others Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares GOING AFTER TAX EVADERS. Jacinto-Henares previously served as BIR deputy commissioner for special concerns during the Arroyo administration. During her stay in the BIR, she headed the "Run After Tax Evaders" (RATE) operation, which attracted the public's attention when cases were filed against celebrities Judy Ann Santos, Regine Velasquez, and Richard Gomez. Her ties with Aquino: She worked for the BIR around the same time that Cesar Purisima, who was part of President Aquino's inner circle, was finance secretary. The BIR is one of the attached agencies of the DOF. Other info: She recently served as senior private sector development specialist at the IFC/World Bank. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita "Ding" Deles ANOTHER HYATT 10 RETURNEE. Deles served as Mrs. Arroyo’s peace adviser from 2003 until 2005, when she and the rest of the so-called Hyatt 10 resigned over the Hello Garci scandal. She has said she wants to resume peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army. Her ties with Aquino: Many members of the Hyatt 10 supported the NoyMar campaign. Even before Noynoy was proclaimed president-elect, Deles revealed that he had already asked her to go back to her old post and to attend Palace briefings on the peace process. Other info: Prior to her appointment as Mrs. Arroyo's peace adviser, she headed the National Anti-Poverty Commission from 2001 to 2003. - YA, GMANews.TV