Who will be the people around President Noynoy?

As usual after the election of a new president, so many people are jockeying for positions, some of them going through power brokers, some going straight to Times Street to apply. I’m told there are already over 200 individuals claiming to be Noynoy supporters interested in varying government positions, some even sending text messages to their “padrinos” in the Noynoy camp.

Judging from speculations and information within the inner circle of Noynoy and also through text messages, several names have been mentioned. We’re not sure whether this is confirmed but from what I hear, Makati Business Club chairman Ramon “Boy Blue” del Rosario, a close friend of the Aquino family and former FVR Finance Secretary will be appointed as the new Foreign Affairs Secretary. Then there’s Bobby de Ocampo also from the Makati Business Club who will probably get back the Finance portfolio he held during FVR’s time. Bobby was voted as the World’s Best Finance Minister by Euromoney Magazine in 1995 and has very good credentials.

Noynoy Aquino is supposed to have a “macro” style of management where he simply gives instructions without going into details, so he definitely has to surround himself with good people. One person with unquestionable loyalty and closeness to Noynoy is his “Ate” Ballsy Aquino-Cruz. She is obviously competent, going by the fact that Mrs. Aquino herself depended on Ballsy when she was in Malacañang. Those who know Ballsy well say her strength of character has kept the family intact during the death of Mrs. Aquino, becoming Noynoy’s sounding board and guiding light. Another trusted relative is Rapa Lopa, Cory Aquino’s Executive Assistant in Malacañang and who served as Aquino family spokesman during the late president’s illness. Rapa is the son of the late Teresita Cojuangco-Lopa, an older sister of Mrs. Aquino. 

One surprising development brought about by the candidacy of Noynoy is the setting aside of differences by the three branches of the Cojuangco clan and uniting for a common cause. Peping and Danding, traditional political rivals in Tarlac, worked together to ensure Noynoy’s win. Unfortunately, because of the breakdown of his relationship with Danding, one relative who was isolated and did not get the support of the Cojuangco clan is Gilbert Teodoro. Brothers Choy and Mikey together with Tony Boy, the children of the late Ramon Cojuangco, also went out of their way to campaign for Noynoy. Lisa Cojuangco, the oldest daughter of Danding, was also very vocal in her support for Noynoy.

Some of the names being floated are quite unknown to most Filipinos. For instance Bong Naguiat who was mentioned many times is an old friend and classmate of Noynoy at the Ateneo. He is reportedly being eyed to replace PAGCOR chair Efraim Genuino, while the buzz is strong that another close friend, Pete Prado, will be the next Transportation Secretary. Jojo Ochoa, Noynoy’s legal counsel, is being considered for the position of Executive Secretary while former GMA Defense chief Nonong Cruz will probably head the Department of Justice.

Obviously, those expected to occupy various government posts are members of the so-called Hyatt 10, among them Dinky Soliman who has already been offered her old position at the Social Welfare Department. But because of the uncertainty of the situation of Mar Roxas, others are not sure whether they will in fact be appointed to Noynoy’s official family. However, Cesar Purisima is reportedly slated for Trade and Industry, the old position of Johnny Santos who in turn will reportedly have the Energy portfolio. Butch Abad who played a major role in the Liberal Party campaign of Noynoy will probably return to the Department of Education, aside from the fact that his sister Julia – who is Noynoy’s chief of staff at the Senate, is expected to play a major role in the next administration.

Considering Noynoy’s campaign promise to rid the country of graft and corruption, the people he appoints will surely be in the spotlight and Filipinos will be closely watching to see if indeed, his will be a corrupt-free government. Which is why the people who will surround Noynoy in Malacañang must be perceived as impeccably clean. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (who has a strong mandate from the people having come out number three in the Senate race), has warned that she – as well as the whole Congress – will be watching the official family of Noynoy, in particular former government officials who served under the GMA administration. The feisty senator even pointedly said that she entertains “serious doubts about the honesty of some people,” questioning their intentions and naughtily adding, “I’m very sorry to give them the bad news: Guys, you will not get rich this time.” 

While the race for the vice presidency continues to be tight with Jojo Binay having a slim margin, a number of businessmen aligned with Mar Roxas are still hopeful that he will emerge as winner. But in the event that he does not make it, my unsolicited advice to Mar is for him to just continue as Liberal Party president and not accept any Cabinet position – he doesn’t need it anyway. What he may want to do is to make sure he has total access to Noynoy to give the new president objective, untainted advice, and “tell it like it is.” At some point, he may want to start thinking about going back to the Senate in 2013 and then gun for the presidency in 2016.

Although the name of former Quezon City mayor Jun Simon was mentioned as Interior and Local Government Secretary, there’s a big possibility of Jojo Binay becoming concurrent DILG chief if he wins the vice presidential race. But at the end of the day, regardless of the people who will be surrounding him in the Palace, it is Noynoy – and he alone – who will have to make the hard decisions for the next six years as he governs the ever-growing number of Filipinos now nearing 100 million.

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