Palace confirms PGMA’s plan to turn over Lakas to Gibo
MANILA,
Nov. 8 (PNA) -- Malacañang on Saturday morning confirmed reports that
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo plans to turn over the leadership of
the Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition to party standard bearer Defense
Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr.
Press
Secretary Cerge Remonde made this announcement in an interview over
Radyo ng Bayan, saying that the President stated her desire to pass the
torch of leadership to the party’s choice of standard bearer in keeping
with the party tradition. She also wanted to pass the torch to the
younger generation.
Reacting
to the announcement of Secretary Teodoro that he is resigning on Nov.
15, Remonde said “we (the President and I) have talked about it. We are
ready with the replacements for the Cabinet secretaries who will resign
for their personal reasons from within the organization. Until we have
finally appointed them, I would rather not talk about it."
Remonde
added that Cabinet replacements will most likely come from within the
ranks so there will be no need for long adjustments.
Remonde
said he has decided to serve the President as her press secretary until
her term ends. “If she will give me another post, I will request that
it would be in addition to my being press secretary because I already
have good rapport and harmonious relations with the media,” he said.
Meanwhile,
Remonde said Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, a
former Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice presidential aspirant, is busy supervising
the preparations of the Philippine National Police operations for the
rescue of Columban priest Fr. Michael Sinnott.
Remonde
said the supposed endorsement by Batangas Bishop Arguelles of
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. for
president might be traced to the Secretary’s being “an active member of
the Catholic church and his stand against the reproductive health bill,
unlike presidential aspirant Senator Noynoy Aquino’s support for the RH
bill.” (PNA)
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