PNoy BACKING LACSON SPARKS NOY'S PARTY (LP)
INFIGHTING
MANILA, JUNE 19, 2012
(TRIBUNE) Featured Written by Gerry Baldo - MAR ROXAS WANTS TO
RETAIN ROBREDO TO AID HIS HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP BID
Infighting in the stables of President Aquino erupted anew with the
endorsement of Aquino himself of Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (photo) for a
Cabinet slot when his term expires next year possibly to the post of Secretary
of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), a prospect that the
camp of Aquino "trouble shooter" Transportation and Communications Secretary
Manuel Roxas wants blocked.
Highly-placed sources from the House of Representatives said that Roxas,
president of the Liberal Party, is extremely opposed to the plan of President
Aquino to give Lacson a Cabinet post.
"The camp of Sec. Roxas is against Lacson because he is not their ally.
They want to keep (Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse) Robredo in
his post as the latter's departure may jeopardize whatever plans that Roxas may
have in mind for the coming elections.
The post of Robredo is very strategic in terms of harmonizing relations with
local governments and national police force," the source said.
[PHOTO - LIBRAL PARTY PRESIDENT MAR ROXAS]
The same source said that while Aquino, LP chairman, wants Roxas to remain in
his Cabinet, the secretary and former senator is reportedly eyeing the post of
House Speaker in place of Feliciano Belmonte by running as congressman of Capiz
in the 2013 elections.
"There are serious talks in Capiz about his comeback and challenge the
speaker's post of the next Congress. If Secretary Robredo will be replaced, the
replacement must be their ally," the source said. But the source explained that
the last say would be from Aquino who is allegedly weighing his options so as
not to hurt leaders of the LP in case he appointed Lacson to a contested post.
"The President is weighing intelligently all his available options so as to
ensure that his forces are consolidated and united.
The last say will be the President's. After all, it is his prerogative," the
source said.
Roxas has been locked in a bitter battle with Vice President Jejomar Binay
since the past elections. Roxas protested Binay's victory before the
Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
In his recent trip to the United Kingdom and Northern Island, Aquino
confirmed to the media that he was now eyeing Lacson and Sen. Francisco "Kiko"
Pangilinan as potential members of his Cabinet upon the expiration of their
terms of office on June 2013.
But Aquino refused to elaborate on the assignments that Lacson and
Pangilinan will most likely be getting, and made it appear that his premature
announcement was meant to test the waters.
Lacson and Pangilinan are allies of Aquino and both two-term senators' terms
will expire by 2013.
Lacson's staff was part of the "Noybi" group that helped propel Aquino and
Binay to victory.
Earlier, Lacson expressed openness to the possibility of accepting the post
of secretary to replace Robredo if offered by the President.
Another post that is reportedly going to be vacated is the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR).
In a recent dialogue with Aquino, farmers' groups, church leaders and other
stakeholders of the agrarian reform sector expressed their dismay over what they
claimed as the inability of the DAR, under the leadership of de los Reyes, to
accomplish the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) by 2014.
Sources said that in the same dialogue, the multi-sectoral group had made
known their desire to have delos Reyes replaced if the Aquino government were
really serious in pursuing its goal of completing land distribution in the
remaining years of Aquino's presidency.
Also discussed during the said meeting, which took place in Malacanang last
Thursday, was the failure of the DAR to install farmers in CARP-awarded land and
the lack of additional budget of the agency for support services to farmers .
According to the same sources, the multi-sectoral group repeatedly warned the
President that his administration's commitment to genuine land reform would fail
if Delos Reyes will continue to lead the agency.
The President, however remained non-committal on the demand of the group to
replace de los Reyes but appeared to be visibly irked during the said meeting,
sources said. Several names have already been floated as possible replacement of
de los Reyes, including former Akbayan Partylist Rep. Riza Hontiveros Baraquel
and incumbent Akbayan Partylist Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, the sources said.
The old CARP law or Republic Act 6657 took effect during the term of the late
President Corazon Aquino, mother of the incumbent President. It was said to be
the center piece program of the Cory presidency. In 2009 RA 9700 was signed into
law to extend the CARP, specifically the land distribution and acquisition
aspects of the program, until 2014.
Meanwhile, de los Reyes, a lawyer by profession, first entered the agency as
Undersecretary for legal affairs during the leadership of former DAR chief
Hernani Braganza.
He left the DAR when Braganza resigned from his post. His appointment under
the Aquino presidency was believed to have the backing of the powerful Ayala
family, who are known allies of Aquino.
Roxas wants another agency for Lacson instead of DILG
Written by Gerry Baldo Tuesday, 19 June 2012 00:00
Allies of President Aquino are now deeply into political horse trading in the
runup to the mid-term elections next year as the camp of Liberal Party (LP)
president Manuel Roxas offered an alternative on the appointment of Sen. Panfilo
Lacson, to head the reorganized Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission
(PAOCC) instead of taking over from Jesse Robredo as head of the Department of
Interior and Local Governments (DILG).
Roxas wants to preserve Robredo at the top DILG post, supposedly to aid his
bid to wrest the Speakership at the House of Representatives, a post which he
would be able to have a crack at if he secures a congressional seat.
The source said Roxas will run for the post of Capiz Representative enroute
to mounting a challenge against incumbent Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
According to a ranking source at the House of Representatives, Roxas' move
would also create a stir within the circle of Aquino by taking away the PAOCC
post from Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa, one of the more trusted allies of
the president.
Lacson and Sen. Francis Pangilinan, whose terms of office would expire by
June next year are being groomed for Cabinet posts as announced by Aquino
himself with Lacson apparently being considered to head the DILG while
Pangilinan may assume the post as Presidential Adviser on Agricultural Affairs.
The same source said that Roxas wants to keep Robredo at the DILG until after
the next elections but President Aquino is also reportedly considering
appointing Lacson to head the Bureau of Customs (BoC), a post which is expected
to be vacated by Commissioner Ruffy Baizon.
Biazon will likely be one of the senatorial candidates of the Liberal party.
"There is no formal discussion yet, but definitely the President is determined
to appoint them in the government," the source said, adding that Lacson may
replace Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon if the latter decides to run in next
year's senatorial elections.
The source explained that Robredo's relief would affect Roxas' political
plans. "At any rate, Robredo's departure may affect the Liberal Party's chances
in 2013 elections, especially since Secretary Roxas has still political plans,"
the source said.
In the case of Pangilinan, the source said the senator wants to take the post
of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. While President Aquino, LP chairman,
wants Roxas to remain in his Cabinet, sources said the secretary and former
senator may return to his old post in 2013 as congressman of Capiz and challenge
the leadership of Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., a staunch ally also of
the Chief Executive and LP's vice chairman, in the next 16th Congress. Right
now, Executive Secretary Ochoa is Aquino's anti-crime czar under Executive Order
(EO) No. 46. If Lacson is appointed head of PAOCC, he will have some authority
over the DILG, Departments of Justice (DoJ), National Defense (DND) and Foreign
Affairs (DFA), the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Intelligence
Coordinating Agency (NICA), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the
Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (NCTC).
In his recent trip to the United Kingdom and Northern Island, Aquino
confirmed to media that he is eyeing Lacson and Pangilinan as potential members
of his Cabinet upon the expiration of their terms of office on June 2013. But
Aquino refused to elaborate on the agencies that Lacson and Pangilinan will most
likely be getting making it appear that his premature announcement was meant to
test the water.
Lacson and Pangilinan are allies of Aquino and both two-term senators' terms
will expire by 2013. Lacson's staff was part of the "Noybi" group that helped
propel President Aquino and Binay to victory. Earlier, Lacson expressed openness
to the possibility of accepting the post of secretary to replace Robredo if
offered by President Aquino.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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