'Noy, Manny, Dick opt not to give names

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential candidates who attended a forum with the business community on Tuesday gave glimpses on who they want to appoint as Cabinet officials if they win on May 10.

At the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) presidential forum on Tuesday, 6 candidates were asked about their choices for their Cabinet if they become president.

They were asked to specify 3 potential appointees.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said he would like to keep current Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila.

Cabral is notable for supporting the reproductive health bill, an issue that Teodoro had wavered on in previous presidential forums.

Earlier in the PCCI forum, Teodoro said he sees no need to remove government officials from their posts if they are “doing a good job.”

This was in answer to a question on what candidates should do about redundant or underperforming government agencies.

Reappointments

Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas said his ideal Cabinet will include economists Cielito Habito of the Ateneo de Manila University and Solita Monsod of the UP School of Economics.

Habito was director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) under the Ramos administration while Monsod was NEDA chief in the early part of the Aquino administration.

He also named public accountant Benjamin Punongbayan as an ideal appointee for his Cabinet.

Villanueva said his choice of appointees will be based on “character, competence and integrity.”

Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), meanwhile, said he will bring back most Cabinet members who served under his administration before he was ousted in 2001.

“I had the best Cabinet ever,” he said. “None of them were involved in any scam.”

Cabinet officials during Estrada’s term included Gemma Cruz-Araneta as tourism secretary, Orlando Mercado as defense secretary, and Benjamin Diokno as budget secretary.

Estrada had appointed Jose Pardo and later Manuel “Mar” Roxas, who is now running as vice president under the Liberal Party, as trade and industry secretary, among others.

Still a secret

Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, however, declined to answer the question.

“I’ve taken the position of not naming them,” Aquino said.

Sen. Richard Gordon and Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar, meanwhile, did not specify whom they want to appoint, but described qualities they look for in their Cabinet officials.

“I want somebody courageous, who is honest and who will be terribly efficient,” said Gordon, who is running under the Bagumbayan Party.

Villar also refused to name names, but stressed the importance of teamwork in his Cabinet if he wins as president.

“Para sa ganun po, mas malayo ang marating ng ating team. (So that our team can go farther),” Villar said.

A presidential Cabinet is composed of the most high-ranking appointed officials in the executive branch of the Philippine government.

Cabinet officials currently comprise of the 19 secretaries of executive departments, the heads of the National Security Council and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), as well as the head of the Presidential Management Staff, the press secretary and executive secretary. -- Report by Kristine Servando, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.