President Arroyo is likely to appoint this week the replacements of cabinet members who have quit their posts to pursue their electoral bid in the upcoming polls, according to a Palace official.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said the President is expected to scrutinize the qualifications of the new cabinet appointees to sustain the work in the respective departments.

Olivar however, declined to confirm the identities of the possible cabinet members, saying it was prudent to wait for the President's announcement.

“Let’s wait for the decision of the President on cabinet replacements as soon as possible, most likely within this week because the cabinet members cannot quit their posts immediately until their replacements are announced,” Olivar said over government radio.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and several other Cabinet members running in the May polls have tendered their courtesy resignation last week following a Supreme Court decision that deemed them resigned.

The High Court ruled that appointed officials are considered resigned after they filed their certificates of candidacy last December. The President however has not yet accepted the courtesy resignations of the affected Cabinet men although she has treated them as “guests” during a recent meeting in Palawan.

Olivar said the President would be “objective and quick” in selecting her new Cabinet members without sacrificing the process of selection and the quality of these incoming officials.

Other Cabinet members who have submitted their courtesy resignations are Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Presidential Management Staff chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Presidential Adviser for External Affairs Edgardo Pamintuan, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Augusto Syjuco.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez are reportedly waiting for the SC ruling to become final and executory.

Ermita is seeking a congressional seat in the First District of Batangas; Andaya, First District of Camarines Sur; Devanadera, First District of Aurora; Esperon, Sixth District of Pangasinan; Yap, Third District of Bohol, and Syjuco in Iloilo province. Pamintuan and Gonzalez have joined the mayoralty race in Angeles City and Iloilo City, respectively.

Olivar earlier said the concerned officials are expected to do what they think is best for them, including whether to contest the ruling or resign immediately. He said President merely wants to ensure that government operations are not hampered by the departure of her key Cabinet members.

The President’s other deputy spokesperson, Charito Planas, on the other hand, said last week that President Arroyo is likely to replace these Cabinet members until the Supreme Court ruling is final and executory. Planas claimed that the President respects the right of Cabinet members who would seek a motion for reconsideration on the matter.