The social arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines is pushing the appointment of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Christian Monsod to either head the environment or agrarian reform in the Aquino cabinet.

Fr. Edwin Gariguez, CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace (NASSA) executive secretary, said that they will recommend Monsod to President-elect Aquino for one of the two positions, based on feed backs from environment advocates. “The environmentalists, they want to recommend someone to the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). The name of Christian Monsod is being mentioned for the position of DENR or the DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform),” said Fr. Gariguez.

Gariguez issued the statement after Dr. Angelina Galang of Miriam College,whom they wanted to take the position, reportedly declined the endorsement.

Gariguez pointed out that Monsod is qualified for the Cabinet position noting that he "is active in the issues Climate Change and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper)… On our part, we can see that he is capable of entering the (Aquino) Cabinet.” (Raymund Antonio)