Revised Comelec sked to defer Cabinet changes

Changes in President Estrada’s Cabinet would likely be made in February following the resetting of filing period for certificates of candidacy for next year’s polls.

Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. said yesterday the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to revise the schedule will allow Cabinet men running in the elections to stay a little bit longer in office and give the President more time to evaluate replacements. Puno himself is seeking a Senate seat in the May polls.

Under the country’s election code, a public official intending to file his candidacy should first resign from his post. The Comelec recently moved the deadline for the filing of candidacies from Jan. 14 to Feb. 12, 2001.

Last week, the President said he would start replacing departing Cabinet men after Christmas.

Apart form Puno, those expected to leave the President’s official family are Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora and Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim.

Zamora earlier announced his intention to run as congressman of San Juan while Lim is eyeing his old post of Manila mayor or a Senate seat.
Meanwhile, Zamora said the President is currently going over a list of candidates who will replace Comelec Chairwoman Harriet Demetriou and two other outgoing commissioners.

The executive secretary downplayed recent concern over a possible vacuum in the poll body, which is busy preparing for the May polls. The terms of office of Demetriou and commissioners Juanito Desamito and Teresita Dy Liaco-Flores will lapse on Feb. 14, 2001.

"There are definitely names being considered," he said.

Zamora, however, refused to reveal the identities of those being evaluated.

"Let’s just wait. Their names will be announced soon," he pointed out. – With Jess Diaz