Goma, Gatchalian to be reappointed

Movie star Richard Gomez and plastics king William Gatchalian may be reappointed along with other presidential advisers and consultants who President Estrada believes have done good for the government.

The Chief Executive made the announcement on his three different radio programs yesterday.

Gomez is the presidential adviser on youth and sports, while Gatchalian is presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers.

Five days ago, the Chief Executive said he had accepted the resignations of 25 of his 72 advisers, consultants and assistants who have no regular functions.

"But I will reappoint only a few of them, those who can really help," the President said. "And if ever I should re-appoint them, I will order them not to use calling cards henceforth."

Mr. Estrada said Gatchalian pays for the legal expenses and airfares of distressed overseas Filipino workers even if he does not receive a salary from the government.

Gomez, on the other hand, is active in the anti-drug campaign Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD), diligently attending rallies to encourage the Filipino youth to engage in sports instead of drugs, he added.

The President said Gomez is not paid any talent fee whenever he appears in MAD rallies, with 50,000 people attending one such rally in Cebu recently.

"The good deeds they have done had not been published," he said. "So I have accepted the resignations of some (presidential advisers and consultants). Those who need to be reinstated, I will return them to their former positions and many of them are really helpful."

As of yesterday, Malacañang has not released the official list of presidential advisers, consultants and assistants who have submitted their resignations to the President.

However, the Chief Executive told newsmen that no law requires him to make public the names of his advisers, consultants and assistants.

He reiterated his prerogative to appoint in the government any person who has his confidence.

Mr. Estrada blamed the media for the "disinformation" on the exact number of his advisers, consultants and assistants, adding that some newspapers (not The STAR) have reported their number to be 100.

The President gave as example the cases of National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre, Presidential Flagship Project Adviser Robert Aventajado, Presidential Management Staff chief Leonora de Jesus, and the Presidential Assistants on Regional Concerns Office.

"I could not understand why the media are so hell bent against them (presidential advisers)," he said. "There should really be no issue here. I think it is my prerogative as President to decide. As father of the nation, I know who are the ones who can help me." --