Aside from the two, the President also swore into office several officials, including two undersecretaries, an assistant secretary, and 22 newly promoted police officers.
Isabel Canlas de Leon formally took her oath as Undersecretary for Media Relations of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), replacing former undersecretary Carmen "Ching" Suva who had retired.
The President, who has been nursing an eye infection since Thursday, also administered the oath to Undersecretary Edwin Enrile of the Office of the President, Carissa Cruz as Assistant Secretary of Trade and Industry, and Reynaldo Jaylo as chief of the Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force under the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).
Incoming Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a briefing that other Cabinet members are expected to take their oath next week.
The newly promoted police generals who took their oath before the President are Director Ruben Valencia Cabagnot and Chief Supts. Nelson Estares, Merio Froilan Medios, Augusto Angcanan, Jr., Rene Elumbang, Edgardo Doromal, Errol Pan, Aneto Tolentino, German Doria, Wilfredo Dulay, Ray Roderos, Gerry Barias, Ismael Rafanan, Silverio Alarcio, Joel Goltiao, Luizo Ticman, Adolfo Avenido, Raul Bacalzo, Andres Caro II, Romulo Adduru and Ricardo Dapat.
Other officials who were sworn in were Gov. Bartolome Marasigan of Oriental Mindoro, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (6th Dist. Manila), Mayor Sultan Topaan Disomimba of Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, Mayor Alexander Tomawis of Barira, Maguindanao, Mayor Abolais Manalao of Buldon, Maguindanao, Mayor Talib Abo and Vice Mayor Paddian Macarimbang of Parang, Maguindanao.
Members of the Executive Committee of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines headed by Mayor Ramon Guico, the Rizal Mayors League headed by its president, Gerardo Calderon, the Rizal Vice Mayors League headed by President Carmelo Sta. Isabel, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Ilocos Norte Chapter headed by its president, Corazon Ruiz Abad, and the municipal officials of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte headed by Vice Mayor Esteban Agoy also took their oaths before Arroyo.
Officials of the National Committee on the Centennial of the Feminist Movement in the Philippines, Soroptimist International of the Philippines Region, Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Armed Forces Radio Stations, Salon Owners and Hairdressers Associations, Inc., also took their oath before the President.
The President also gave the Dr. Jose Rizal Awards to Francis Chua, George Go Pen Siong, Hau Go Chiok, Deanie Lyne Ocampo, Wilson Ong Garcia, Teresita Sy-Coson, Joaquin Sy and Kenneth Tan.
The lifetime achievement awardees are Philippine-Chinese Charitable Association president Dr. James Dy, United Daily News editor Chua Kee, World News publisher Atty. Florencio Mallare, and noted historian Dr. Samuel K. Tan.
The late Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee and Sr. Christine Tan were also awarded posthumously.
Palace defends new execs
Malacañang yesterday defended President Arroyo’s first batch of Cabinet officials, saying they are "fit for the job," rejecting criticisms the appointments were political payments to those who worked to give the President a controversial victory in the May elections.
"The new Cabinet appointments are a payback to the Filipino people for their support and to no party or faction," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a news briefing. Arroyo’s victory has been questioned by opponent Fernando Por Jr. before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).
He said each appointee brings to the Cabinet "a unique skill, competence and experience to carry forward the administration agenda."
"The appointees are all fit for the job," he reiterated even as criticisms were heaped on the new appointees by lawmakers and various groups. The critics say the new officials and Arroyo allies have been rewarded with a windfall for their support.
"There is a balance, versatility, and diversity in his this new team which we are confident will bring maturity, activism, and pragmatism to the decisions of government," he said.
Bunye appealed to critics of Arroyo’s new Cabinet appointments to give the team a chance to deliver. "Let us give each other a fair opportunity rather than claw at each other like crabs," he added.
The President is expected to announce the second installment of Cabinet changes next week. Last Wednesday, she bared the first Cabinet changes, which was mostly a reshuffling of old faces in her official family. Officials claimed Arroyo’s main consideration in the appointments is the officials’ commitment to her 10-point agenda.
The appointment of former chief presidential legal counsel Avelino Cruz Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) was one of the controversial ones.
Cruz himself said the appointment of a civilian to the top DND post was recommended by the Felipe and Davide Commissions that investigated the failed mutiny of junior officers on July 27, 2003.
He said the commission made the recommendation "to give a fresh and innovative outlook to the DND in implementing AFP modernization."
Cruz boasted that he has had experience in security and military issues and these qualify him for the job.
He claimed he would gradually eliminate corruption in the military, initially by letting the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) handle the procurement of military supplies.
Cruz was a member of the Cabinet Oversight on Internal Security and the National Security Council (NSC) since he joined the Arroyo government. He also participated in the review of draft peace agreements with the communist rebels and Muslim separatists and in meetings on the Joint Defense Assessment program with the US.
He was also involved in the drafting of the Terms of Reference of the Balikatan 02-01 in 2001 and the Balikatan 03-01 in 2003. He also worked closely with defense and military officials in the RP-US mutual logistics support agreement, among others. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
Hold fire, Pangilinan pleads
Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan asked critics to suspend their judgment on the new Cabinet appointees of President Arroyo and pleaded that they be given "the benefit of the doubt."
"It is easy to criticize the appointees and find fault. But instead of criticism and fault-finding, we should first allow them the chance to do their work instead of coming out firing away. Our people want a working government that delivers results and not a government wherein there is too much mudslinging and negativism," Pangilinan said.
Pro-administration Sen. Ralph G. Recto supported Pangilinan by saying that "you don’t have to have a Cabinet of Einsteins to make the government work (but) a group of team players who will follow the leader and will deliver will be fine."
"It’s good critics of the Cabinet revamp didn’t live in the time of Jesus (Christ) or they would have belittled the disciples he had chosen. They would have scoffed at the qualifications of the four fishermen, a scribe, a tax collector, a carpenter and one self-confessed slow learner whom he chose as assistants," Recto added.
Pangilinan defended the President’s choice of her Cabinet after Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. questioned the appointment of two of the new Cabinet members- lawyer Avelino "Nonong" Cruz to the Department of National Defense (DND) and Rep. Raul Gonzalez as Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary.
Pimentel questioned the fairness of former House Deputy Speaker Raul Gonzalez, who had shown "clearly partisan" decisions while acting as chairman of the House panel during the canvassing of the certificates of canvass (CoCs) in the May 10 presidential and vice presidential elections.
Opposition Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Ejercito Estrada maintained that some of the appointees received their postings as "political payback."
"They will have a difficult time (being confirmed) at the Commission on Appointments. Particularly those appointed at the DoJ, Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of National Defense," Estrada said. (Mario B. Casayuran)
Views from Congress
As expected, administration and opposition congressmen issued contrasting views about the choices made by President Arroyo for Cabinet officials.
In separate press statements, House of Representatives Majority Leader Prospero Nograles, together with Reps. Juan Miguel Zubiri (Lakas, Bukidnon), Faysah RPM Dumarpa (Lakas, Lanao del Sur) and Constancio Jaraula (Lakas, Cagayan de Oro City) were one in supporting the President, saying that her appointees deserve the approval of the Commission on Appointments (CA).
Also coming to the President’s defense was her son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, who said that it is the prerogative of the Chief Executive to determine who fits her team.
"I do hope we will give her a chance to choose the people she trusts," he said.
However, opposition Rep. Imee Marcos criticized the appointment of lawyer Avelino Cruz as secretary of defense. She claimed Cruz’s appointment has been sneered at by the military establishment.
According to Marcos, the top corporate lawyer, whom she described as a "good mathematician," may not be the best civilian for the job because it is alien to his background.
Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile was a "mere civilian with no military background," a reporter butted in, adding that he was like Cruz when he became defense secretary. Unknown to many, Enrile worked with the guerrilla forces during World War II and was incarcerated by the Japanese for his activities in Cagayan.
Zubiri also chided critics, saying that the President’s appointees are "a hundred times" more qualified than presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr.
"What can be said is that all the men and women whom the President had appointed are better than FPJ," he said.
According to Zubiri, the opposition are "biased" for adopting "one lenient yardstick for the leader of the land but a stringent one for assistants."
For her part, Dumarpa said that the Cabinet team is a sign that the President is serious in turning the country around for the better particularly in relation to the economy and the peace and order situation.
However, she expressed misgivings over the failure of the President to include "at least one Muslim" or a Mindanaoan to the Cabinet.
Jaraula also backed Arroyo’s choice of Cabinet officials. He expressed the optimism that the new presidential advisers would pass the CA scrutiny with flying colors.
"Let us give them a chance to prove their worth. The President knows the enormous problems faced by the nation and she believes this team is composed of the right persons who would see to it that the solutions will be effective," he said. (Ben R. Rosario)
