Secretary General Ralph Recto of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) announces his resignation from the Cabinet during a press conference at the NEDA office on Ortigas Ave., Pasig City Wednesday. (Photo by ART TORRES)

With socio economic planning secretary Ralph Recto on the way out, Malacañang is prepared for the exodus of other cabinet members who are also planning to seek elective positions next year.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said they expect some cabinet members to leave the government especially when November, the month of filing of certificates of candidacies, draws near.

Ermita however refused to identify these cabinet members with political ambitions, adding the public somehow know whose these officials are Recto, also director general of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), will step down from his post on August 16 to run for senator in nextyear’s elections.

In the event of the departure of these cabinet men, he said President Arroyo could easily choose their replacements who would be her competent partners in sustaining the country’s development towards the end of her term.

“This is anticipated and that’s why the government structure is such that we have the primary cabinet secretaries and all heads of agencies with their undersecretaries and assistant secretaries and all the way down to Director V. The President can appoint these people. She wants to be assisted by well-chosen senior officials,” he said of the exodus of some cabinet officers eyeing elective positions in next year’s elections.

He said these cabinet members aspiring for positions in 2010 “may have to resign come filing of the certificates of candidacies or sometime third week of November.”

“Your knowledge of who might run for elections is as good as mine,” Ermita added, when asked to name the members of the Arroyo cabinet who are likely to leave.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio earlier said eight cabinet members are considering of running in the 2010 national and local elections.

Among the Cabinet officials who have already expressed interest of running are Defense Secretar y Gilbert Teodoro and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando, who are both eyeing the presidency. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez also reportedly plans to run for mayor in his hometown in Iloilo province.

Also reported to run for public office next year are Vice President Noli de Castro, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chairman Augusto Syjuco, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

Ermita, meantime, said the President will not stop Recto from pursuing his senatorial ambitions next year after a failed bid in 2007.

“I suppose he believes in the saying that the early bird catches the worm and he want to be able to move around more freely with much more time in preparations for 2010,” he said.

He also doused speculations that Recto was joining the opposition camp, claiming that Recto is a loyal member of the Lakas-Kampi party. Claudio earlier said Recto would likely run under the administration’s senatorial slate.

Ermita also denied that Recto’s departure from the Arroyo cabinet was connected with his supposed rift with Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes over the prices of oil products. He said the Palace has not taken sides in the Recto-Reyes quarrel and instead encouraged both officials to settle their differences.

“There is no reason for him to resign because of Reyes because they are both cabinet secretaries and they are free to voice opinions on issues,” he said.

While they appreciate Recto’s contributions to NEDA, Ermita said the former senator was not a big loss to the cabinet since he was relatively new to the group. Recto, who lost in the 2007 senatorial elections, was named NEDA director general in July, 2008.

“I feel that there is always flexibility. The President is the only one who would know how to choose the members of the cabinet, who will help her in governance,” he said.