Roxas to serve as Aquino's de facto chief of staff

Defeated vice presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II is likely to serve as President Benigno Aquino III’s de facto chief of staff, although Aquino is not sure if that is the right title for the position. Roxas is expected to assume the position once the constitutional one-year ban on appointing unsuccessful candidates ends on May 11. Aquino, in Jakarta for the 18th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), told reporters Sunday that among Roxas’ tasks would be to communicate with groups on behalf of him and coordinate with government officials involved in policy-making. He, however, said he does not know what to call Roxas’ would-be position yet. Asked if Roxas, a former senator, would be his chief of staff, Aquino said: “I’m not yet sure of the exact title, but it’s something to that effect." That way, the President said, there will be no need for him to attend briefings and he will only decide on certain matters once it has reached his office. Aquino had earlier named Roxas, his running-mate in the May 2010 elections, as his government’s “troubleshooter." — KBK, GMA News