Ochoa is currently the city administrator of outgoing Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, a Liberal Party (LP) stalwart who is aiming for the House of Representatives speakership in the next Congress.

President-apparent Senator Benigno Simeon ‘’Noynoy’’ Aquino III named on Monday Paquito ‘’Jojo’’ Ochoa, a former college classmate, as his prospective Executive Secretary (ES) when he assumes the presidency on June 30.

In an interview with Senate reporters at the one-day Senate regular session to approve 11 pending bills Monday, Aquino said Ochoa would be the ‘’implementor of his policies, partner in the crafting of policies, but not as a Little President.’’

The young Aquino had earlier chosen Corazon “Dinky” Soliman as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), a position she held until she and nine other members of the Arroyo Cabinet quit, claiming President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was not fit to be the President.

He had also chosen Teresita Deles as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

The prospective Philippine President had not entirely severed relationship with retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who had rejected the former’s offer to be his Department of Justice (DoJ) secretary. In their conversation, Aquino had asked Puno that he become available to be consulted from time to time on legal or other policy issues.

Ochoa is currently the city administrator of outgoing Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, a Liberal Party (LP) stalwart who is aiming for the House of Representatives speakership in the next Congress.

Asked on what Ochoa’s role would be, Aquino replied: ‘’Yung anything and everything. In effect, di naman siguro sabihin na parang supervisor ng Cabinet. Yung point kailangan may malaman on everything and anything kadamay siya. He will be the one to follow up with concerned agencies on the data I need. He will have to form the decisions that we’ll have to make.’’ (“He has to be an all-around player, but not as a supervisor of the Cabinet. He has to be anything and everything, following up with concerned agencies on the data that I would need.”)

He, nevertheless, explored the idea that Ochoa could be an ideal DoJ secretary to go after smugglers who have entrenched themselves at the customs bureau.

A foreign study showed that some P100 billion in prospective revenues is lost annually at the Bureau of Customs.

He said he might assign Ochoa to the DoJ “because I have promised that I will go after smugglers… we already have a list and we will be effecting the necessary arrests, charges, etc.’’

Asked to clarify the role of Ochoa either as Executive Secretary or as DoJ secretary or both, Aquino replied: “It has to be one or the other, priority is Executive Secretary.’’

Aquino said he is very careful in selecting the prospective members of his Cabinet because “the Cabinet is composed of the President’s alter ego.’’

“And when I am the President, they have to be my alter egos. If they have complete opposite views, how could they be my alter egos?’’ he asked.