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MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) There’s no love lost between the Arroyo administration and Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, who was recently appointed ambassador to Italy despite his earlier statement that he was “torn between two loves”—Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and the administration candidate.
Cuenco on Saturday said he remained loyal to Lakas-Kampi-CMD but may not be able to campaign for the party if his new appointment pushes through—barring any hitches in the confirmation of his appointment.
With only seven months to go before her term ends in June 2010, President Macapagal-Arroyo has made several appointments, including the ambassadorship of Cuenco, who will assume the post formerly held by Philippe Lhuillier.
Being a political appointee, Cuenco will serve until the end of Ms Arroyo’s term, unless extended by the next President, according to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.
“He applied for it even though he is very much aware that he will only serve for several months,” Remonde told reporters. “He is qualified because he chaired the House committee on foreign relations.”
Ms Arroyo also appointed Joel Tan-Torres as acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue; Salome Habal, executive director of the National Parks Development Committee; Pilita Quizon-Venturanza, deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration; and Soledad Emilia Cruz, Ma. Teresa Habitan and Ma. Lourdes Recente as Assistant Secretaries at the Department of Finance.
Cuenco also said he has no plans to run for reelection.
“My term as congressman will be over in June 30. I’m not going to run for reelection. I’ve been a member of the House for 25 years already. It’s time for me to enter another field of service,” he said in a phone interview.
He disclosed that Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo proposed the idea of Cuenco becoming ambassador to Italy a few months ago.
He has been the chair of the House foreign sffairs committee for the last six years and has been active in the Asean Interparliamentary Organization.
Earlier, there was speculation that the Cebu congressman would jump to the Liberal Party after disclosing the results of an informal survey where many of his fellow lawmakers in the House were supportive of Aquino, LP standard-bearer.
Cuenco was a close friend of Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.
He said his earlier statements did not create any rift between him and the administration.
“Romulo wouldn’t have recommended me and the President wouldn’t have signed my appointment if there was rancor or bitterness,” he said.
Meanwhile, 10 members of Ms Arroyo’s Cabinet running for public office in next year’s elections are resigning to beat the deadline for the filing of their certificates of candidacy.
Remonde confirmed on Saturday that one of the 10 officials was joining the senatorial race, while the rest were running for congressional and mayoral posts.
“They will be replaced by insiders,” he told reporters, but declining to identify them for now.
The ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD was earlier egging Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III to be part of its senatorial slate. They could not be reached for comment on Saturday.
The Commission on Elections has set Dec. 1 as the deadline for the filing of CoC.
Officials harboring plans to run for Congress include Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Secretary Hermogenes Esperon of the Presidential Management Staff and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya.
“It’s a go for me. Once I file my CoC, I’m considered resigned,” Esperon, who is running for a congressional seat in Pangasinan’s sixth district under the banner of the ruling party, said in a phone interview.
Those running for mayoral posts are Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and Secretary Raul Gonzalez, chief presidential legal counsel, among others.
Meanwhile, a coalition of labor and peasant groups led by the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka, is set to proclaim former Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as its presidential candidate on Sunday.
Ebdane’s camp said in a statement that the proclamation at the UP Bahay ng Alumni at the University of the Philippines was expected to draw 2,000 leaders and officers from various people’s organizations and NGOs.
His camp said his senatorial lineup would include former Elections Commissioner Mehor Sadain and alternative energy advocate Rod Cabrera.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Bayani Fernando had earlier resigned to run for president. So did former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto who will run for senator and Secretary Avelino Razon, presidential adviser on the peace process, who will run for Manila mayor.
