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Noynoy names Cabinet execs, senior government officials
(Updated 6:32 p.m.) With less than a day before he takes his oath as the country's 15th president, President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Tuesday finally named key members of his official family. At a press conference in Quezon City, Aquino introduced the following appointees: Department of Foreign Affairs - Alberto Romulo (incumbent DFA secretary) Department of Finance - Cesar Purisima (former DOF secretary and a member of the Hyatt 10) Department of Justice - Leila De Lima (erstwhile Commission on Human Rights chairperson) Department of National Defense - Voltaire Gazmin (former Philippine Army chief and Presidential Security Group commander in Cory Aquino's administration) Department of Education - Bro. Armin Luistro (former De La Salle University president) Department of Budget and Management - Florencio "Butch" Abad (former DepEd secretary and one of the Hyatt 10) National Economic and Development Authority - Cayetano Paderanga Jr. (who served the same position in Cory Aquino's administration) Department of Agriculture - Quezon Rep. Proceso Alcala Department of Environment and Natural Resources - DENR Undersecretary Ramon Paje Department of Transportation and Communications - Jose "Ping" De Jesus (former DPWH secretary and current Meralco COO) Department of Labor and Employment - Rosalinda Baldos (incumbent undersecretary of the department) Department of Health - Enrique Ona (incumbent executive director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute) Department of Tourism - Alberto Lim (executive director of the Makati Business Club) Department of Trade and Industry - Greg Domingo (former DTI undersecretary) Department of Social Welfare and Development - Corazon "Dinky" Soliman (former DSWD secretary and one of the Hyatt 10) Department of Science and Technology - Mario Montejo Department of Energy - Jose Rene Almendras (Manila Water Co. Inc. president) Department of Public Works and Highways - Rogelio Singson (Maynilad president and CEO) Department of Agrarian Reform - Virgilio de los Reyes (incumbent undersecretary of the department) Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process - Teresita Deles (former peace adviser and one of the Hyatt 10) Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head - Julia Abad (Aquino's Senate chief of staff) Presidential spokesman - Edwin Lacierda (Aquino's campaign spokesman) Presidential chief legal counsel - Eduardo de Mesa Commission on Higher Education - Patricia Licuanan (Miriam College president) Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner - Kim Jacinto-Henares (former BIR deputy commissioner) Lawyer Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr. is widely known as the Executive Secretary. Aquino did not yet name the head of the Department of Interior and Local Government, saying he is still choosing among three candidates. "Each has a particular set of pluses and minuses. We are also trying, some of them have multiple roles that they can fill," Aquino said. "It’s my fault, I still have to make a decision, I didn’t talk to them until after I got proclaimed. We’re still not that confident of choosing which of the three." Aquino said he will manage the DILG temporarily until he chooses someone to head the department. "As soon as I can relinquish it, I will relinquish it. Kung sa kamakalawa, I will do so," he said. It is not the first time that the president stood as the acting head of a department. In 1998, then President Joseph Estrada temporarily headed the DILG portfolio. Mrs. Arroyo also briefly held the DND portfolio early in her administration. Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay, who has earlier expressed his preference to take over the DILG, refused to accept any Cabinet post after reports surfaced that Aquino was not keen on placing him at the DILG. Binay later revealed that Aquino offered to make him the head of any of the following government agencies: Department of Agrarian Reform, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the commission that will be formed to probe corruption scandals in the Arroyo administration. Aquino maintained on Tuesday that Binay is not among the choices for the DILG post. "I did not offer the post to him. And he clarified he didn’t seek the post also. He was only asked if he had a choice, which would he have chosen," he said. Aquino also refused to confirm whether Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, whom he earlier eyed for the post, is still among the three choices. Surprise appointees Some of the appointments were expected, like the appointments of four Hyatt 10 members: Abad, Purisima, Soliman, and Deles. But others came as a surprise. Prior to the announcement, it was rumored that Aquino was choosing among former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan and incumbent Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral. But he chose Ona, who has not headed the DOH before. Paje's appointment also came as a surprise, as it was rumored that acting secretary Horacio Ramos will stay at his post and then defeated Liberal Party senatorial candidate Neric Acosta — who had authored several environmental laws as Bukidnon congressman — will replace him after the one-year ban on appointing losing candidates. Microfinance expert Jaime Aristotle Alip was rumored to be the next DA secretary, so Alcala's appointment was unforeseen by many. Aquino also named retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. as the head of a "Truth Commission" that will investigate unresolved controversies in government, particularly those that occurred in the Arroyo administration. - with Sophia Dedace/LBG, RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV 
All the president’s men/women
President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has promised a Cabinet filled with "the best and the brightest" composed of the young and the experienced, the expert and the idealist. Most of the chosen ones have had extensive government experience. Five are members of the Hyatt 10, a group of high-ranking government officials who resigned from the Arroyo administration at the height of the Hello Garci scandal in 2005 (they announced their resignation at the Hyatt hotel in Manila). At least six served under the administration of Aquino's mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino. A few of the names, such as Dinky Soliman and Teresita Deles, had been announced by Aquino informally weeks ago. Others were a complete surprise to Aquino watchers, including DENR Undersecretary Ramon Paje who will head his department after weeks of speculation that the DENR's current head and the long-time chief of mining, Horace Ramos, would continue as secretary. Continue reading here
