Philippine Aquino announces new cabinet members
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Philippine President-elect Benigno Aquino III announced Tuesday the new members of his cabinet.
Aquino's long-time legal counsel and former Quezon City Administrator Paquito Ochoa Jr. will serve as Executive Secretary, heading the official family.
Two of the key posts went to known allies of Aquino's parents -- democracy icons former Philippine President Corazon Aquino and Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. Former Philippine Army chief and ex- Defense Attache to Washington D.C., retired Lieutenant General Voltaire Gazmin was named Defense Secretary. Alberto Romulo was retained as Foreign Affairs Secretary.
Aquino, who won his post on an anti-corruption platform, appointed feisty Human Rights Commissioner Leila de Lima as Justice Secretary. Human rights groups hailed the appointment of the former election lawyer to the Justice department.
Cesar Purisima, one of Aquino's campaign donors, was named Finance Secretary. He was appointed trade secretary in 2004 and later finance secretary in 2005. He once headed Sycip, Gorres and Velayo, one of the country' s biggest auditing firms.
Aquino is yet to appoint the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. He will temporarily assume this post.
Florencio Abad, campaign manager of Liberal Party, Aquino's party, was named Budget Secretary. Abad served as Representative of Batanes province for almost a decade, before he was appointed Education Secretary in 2004.
Cayetano Paderanga, economics professor at the University of the Philippines, is the new Socioeconomic Planning Secretary. He served as Monetary Board member and Socioeconomic Planning Chief under the administration of Aquino's mother.
Other new members of the Cabinet include Bro. Armin Luistro, president of De La Salle University (Education Secretary); Makati Business Club Executive Director Alberto Lim (Tourism Secretary); Jose Rene Almendras, President of utilities firm Manila Water Co. (Energy Secretary); former Quezon Representative Proceso Alcala ( Agriculture Secretary); Ramon Paje, former Undersecretary of environment and natural resources department (Environment Secretary); Manila Electric Company President and Chief Operating Officer Jose de Jesus (Transportation and Communication Secretary); Enrique Ona of the National Kidney and Transplanty Institute ( Health Secretary); Gregory Domingo, former Undersecretary of trade (Trade Secretary); Rogelio Singson, President and CEO of Maynilad Water Services (Public Works and Highways Secretary); agrarian reform lawyer Virgilio delos Reyes (Agrarian Reform Secretary); and engineer Mario Montejo (Science and Technology Secretary).
Acting Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, current Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa were retained. Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles returned to their posts. Northern Luzon Command Chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David was appointed Armed Forces Chief of Staff while Col. Ramon Mateo Dizon, commander of joint special operations group of the Armed Forces, will head the Presidential Security Group.
Julia Abad, Aquino's chief of staff in Senate, will head the Presidential Management Staff, while lawyer and Aquino's campaign spokesman Edwin Lacierda is the Presidential Spokesman. Aquino's Presidential legal counsel will be Ed de Mesa. Patricia Licuanan, president of Miriam College, was appointed chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education.
