Tourism chief Jimenez finds Lacson ‘wonderful, friendly’

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez on Wednesday described Senator Panfilo Lacson as "wonderful and friendly" even though Lacson had questioned the validity of his appointment. "I met him for the first time today... He's a wonderful and friendly man," Jimenez told reporters in an interview after the Senate finance committee hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Tourism (DOT) for 2012. Lacson, a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA), had criticized Jimenez’s appointment, saying President Benigno Aquino III cannot issue ad interim appointments while Congress is in session. He also said Jimenez cannot take his oath of office if he has not yet been confirmed by the CA. On Wednesday, however, Lacson said he will not question Jimenez because the purpose of the day's budget hearing was not his appointment. "You should know there were no questions on my validity inside that room... We discussed the budget like what was expected and everything was very nice and friendly," said Jimenez about the hearing. Malacañang had earlier said that Jimenez's appointment was legal because he was only appointed on acting capacity. Jimenez likewise said that he only took an oath of office because "it is illegal to act on anything without promising to uphold the law." He said the issue about his appointment is something for lawyers to discuss. "That is a problem again for the legal people, not mine. Hindi po tayo abogado. As far as I am concerned I have my orders from the President and I'm working on those orders," he said. Jimenez said his main objective is to get people "excited" about tourism in the country. "(I want) every Filipino to be an agent of tourism." The Tourism chief said that they aim to come out a slogan for the country's new tourism campaign before Christmas this year. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News