Palace rules out sweeping Cabinet revamp for now

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PUBLISHED ON July 3, 2007 AT 5:44 PM

LEGAZPI CITY — Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye assured today that a wide-ranging revamp of the Cabinet “won’t happen” as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already reappointed the members of her official family whose appointments were bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) of the 13th Congress.

Bunye stressed, however, that making changes in the Cabinet is the “sole prerogative” of the President.

“Many have been reappointed…a sweeping revamp won’t happen in the immediate future,” he said.

In ruling out a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle, Bunye pointed out the President has already reappointed Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to his old post as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The other Cabinet appointee is former Tarlac Congressman Gilbert Teodoro, who will take over the defense portfolio on Aug. 3.

The President has designated National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge pending Teodoro’s assumption of the DND top post.

Last month, the President ordered all heads of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financing institutions (GFIs) to tender their courtesy resignation before June 30, triggering speculations that a revamp of the Cabinet was next in line.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who is also with the President’s party here for today’s National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)-Cabinet Cluster meeting, refused to comment on speculations that former Senate President Frank Drilon would take over his post.

Gonzalez merely reiterated Bunye’s statement that the President has the sole prerogative to decide on who should join her Cabinet.

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