MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Former Education Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad said on Friday that President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino's Cabinet is almost complete.

"Halos kumpleto na. Ang iba kasi ay kailangan pagpasyahan pa ng Pangulo kung alin doon sa mga na-nominate ng search committee ang karapat-dapat," Abad told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG).

He said Aquino's priority is to complete the 25 Cabinet portfolios, which Aquino may announce before or right after his inauguration on June 30.

Aquino will hold a Cabinet meeting after his inauguration. He previously said he wants his Cabinet members to review the current state of the nation through their departments.

The president-elect has announced two appointees: Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa as executive secretary and Corazon "Dinky" Soliman as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Possible appointments

Reports reaching abs-cbnNEWS.com from the Aquino camp say the next finance chief will be former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

The late former President Cory Aquino's Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Voltaire Gazmin, also a former Philippine Army chief, will reportedly be the next secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND).

Bro. Armin Luistro, president of De La Salle University (DLSU), will be the next secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Filipino singer-composer Jim Paredes of Apo Hiking Society will reportedly be named tourism secretary after it was rejected by TV host-talent manager Boy Abunda.

Former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Jose "Ping" de Jesus is being eyed to return to his old post, which he held during the Aquino government.

Abad, a former education secretary and district representative of Batanes, will reportedly be the next Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary.

Guillermo Parayno will return to his old post as Bureau of Customs commissioner.

Parayno was Arroyo's customs chief before he quit the government in 2005 together with the "Hyatt-10" group of Cabinet members and senior government officials.

The Hyatt-10, which includes Purisima, Soliman, Abad, had called on President Arroyo to resign due to involvement in election fraud in the 2004 presidential elections.

Aquino has also offered to Naga City Mayor Jessie Robredo the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) post, despite a request from Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay that he be appointed DILG secretary. 

Aquino has also said that once the one-year appointment ban on losing bets lapses, he will appoint his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas, a former trade and industry secretary, to a key post.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture (DA) portfolios have reportedly been reserved for Roxas' choice.

Senate president

Meanwhile, Abad said the Liberal Party has yet to choose between Senators Franklin Drilon and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan as the party's bet for Senate president.

He said Aquino is more focused on ensuring a smooth transition of power from President Arroyo to his government.

"Wala pa hong katiyakan kasi kailangan mag-usap pa sila ni Senator Drilon," Abad said.

The LP, meanwhile, is fielding Quezon City representative-elect Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. for House Speaker.

Belmonte has said he has the numbers to win the House Speakership. 

Belmonte's strongest rival for the House speakership is Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.