Noynoy told: Pick cute, smiling, fragrant Cabinet officials
MANILA, Philippines - Intelligence and a sincere desire to serve the Filipino people are not the only criteria in choosing a Cabinet member. According to Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan, one should also be presentable, approachable and with a good sense of judgment.
Peyuan gave the unsolicited advice to the next President as Malacañang officials prepare for the end of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's term on June 30. Liberal Party candidate Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is currently leading the presidential race but has yet to be officially proclaimed by Congress.
In an interview, Peyuan said choosing the right Cabinet officials is important to ensure a smooth transition to the new administration.
“Ang mungkahi natin ay mamili ng medyo cute na mga makakasama sa kapaligiran. Nakangiti, medyo maayos ang amoy at hindi pa amoy lupa at malapit na magpaalam...Dapat maganda ang sense of judgment nito kung saan dapat akayin ang kabuuan ng bansa," he told reporters.
Peyuan said the fate of the nation would depend on the demeanor of the new President every morning as he faces his official family in Malacañang.
“Ito ay magiging depende hindi sa paggising ng Pangulo kundi depende sa kanyang matatanaw pag dilat ng mata at depende din sa amoy ng hininga ng makakausap niya," he said.
He added that the new Cabinet should give decent, timely advice to the next President without a trace of anger or retribution.
He even pointed out that many of the current members of the Arroyo Cabinet are qualified enough and should remain in their posts under a new President.
“We‘ll take it again as a good gesture that the next President will be a uniting President, the next President will be a healing President, and we are praying that the next President of the Republic of the Philippines will be a listening President. Sa totoo po lamang ay dapat din lamang na huwag po natin na basta aksayahin yung mga ibang karapat-dapat na lingkod-bayan natin, yung tinatawag natin may ibang kaalaman, ibang talento, may ibang bagay sa pamamahala na hindi dapat talagang maging kabahagi ng ating pamumulitika," he said.
The search is on
The Liberal Party earlier confirmed that jockeying for Cabinet posts in the next administration has started, with the perceived electoral win of Aquino.
According to an ABS-CBN source, Corazon "Dinky" Soliman, who served in the early years of the Arroyo administration as social welfare secretary, will be returning to the Cabinet.
Among those who have been recommended are former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo for the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Among those being considered for retention are Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Energy Secretary Jose Ibazeta.
There are also those recommending the return to the Cabinet of former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez Tan.
Aquino said the LP is still in the process of forming a search committee, which will go through the applicants for Cabinet posts and other top government positions. Former Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman Karina Constantino David is said to be part of the search committee. With a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News