Cardenas, Toledo replace Zamora, Puno

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Ramon Cardenas and Press Undersecretary Mike Toledo will take over the respective posts of Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora and Press Secretary Ricardo Puno, who both have gone on leave to prepare for next year’s elections.

Zamora also confirmed yesterday that Deputy Executive Secretary Vicente de la Serna had earlier submitted to President Estrada his re-signation letter effective at the end of this year.

Zamora said De la Serna, former congressman and governor of Cebu, wants to return to politics.

"It is possible one or two more Cabinet members may run. However, they have not decided yet. That’s fine because the filing of certificate of candidacy was moved back," Zamora said. "So there will be an opportunity to look at the political condition and what might be."

The deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy was moved back by the Commission on Elections to Feb. 14.

Aside from Zamora, Puno and De la Serna, others who may pursue an elective post next May are Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim, Flagship Projects Secretary Roberto Aventajado, Agrarian Reform Secretary Horacio Morales and Tourism Secretary Gemma Araneta.

Both Zamora and Puno have already submitted their vacation leaves to the President. Zamora is flying next week to the United States for his annual medical check-up, while Puno said he would think over his political plans during the break.

Zamora said he would in effect be considered resigned when he files next month his certificate of candidacy to run for his old congressional seat in San Juan.

Zamora, of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, will be up against incumbent San Juan Rep. Jose Mari Gonazlez of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

And while Cardenas will be taking over Zamora’s post in an acting capacity, there are others also being considered, most of them already in the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, the President he and his Cabinet will be working overtime during the holidays to come up with possible solutions to the country’s political and economic crisis.

"All I want is to get our countrymen out of poverty. We’ll be working overtime to look for a solution that will help raise the economy," Mr. Estrada said in his speech yesterday at Subic Freeport in Zambales to inaugurate foreign investment projects in the area.

In an adlib, he again lambasted those critical of his administration and calling for his resignation even while his impeachment trial was ongoing, saying those groups were the ones scaring away investors and pulling down the economy.