Carague is COA chief; Benipayo named Comelec chairman

President Arroyo appointed yesterday a former member of the Aquino Cabinet as the new chairman of the Commission on Audit (COA).

Guillermo Carague, a former secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, will replace outgoing COA Chairman Celso Gangan for a fixed seven-year term.

In another development, Mrs. Arroyo is expected to announce today her appointment of Supreme Court Administrator Alfredo Benipayo as the new chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Benipayo, a law professor at the University of Sto. Tomas, was first appointed as court administrator during the time of former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa.

He was seen last night leaving the Palace apparently after meeting with the President.

Carague, a professional accountant, ran but lost in the 1992 senatorial elections. A year later, he was appointed by then President Fidel Ramos to sit in the policy-making Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

His wife Ofelia is the president of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

In another development, Presidential Spokesman Renato Corona said the President has taken note of the objections raised by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel over the possible appointment of Isabela Rep. Heherson Alvarez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Pimentel had objected to Alvarez’s appointment because of the congressman’s favoring pro-selective logging instead of a total ban.

Alvarez reportedly volunteered to withdraw from the senatorial ticket of the People Power Coalition in exchange for the DENR post. Mrs. Arroyo vehemently denied such concessions were being offered to the Isabela lawmaker.

Corona, however, admitted that Alvarez was indeed among those being considered for environment secretary. The background of the nominees are currently being checked by the presidential search committee.

"There is a long list, and it is being trimmed down to a few names," Corona said.

The President said last night she intends to recruit more men and women of competence and integrity from civil society groups, which had supported her in EDSA 2.

She cited in particular personalities belonging to the Foundation for Economic Freedom Inc. Conference (FEE) whom she met earlier in the day at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City.

Mrs. Arroyo pointed out that she has appointed several FEE stalwarts to her Cabinet and key government posts, including Economic Planning Secretary Dante Canlas, Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin and Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.

"And in this room, there are many who will be receiving a call from me one of these days," she told the conference participants.

Meanwhile, former Rizal Rep. Emigdio Tanjuatco asked the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and other organizations to withdraw the recommendation they had made to the President in his favor.

"Today, Feb. 15, 2001, I am asking Namfrel and other organizations to withdraw that recommendation," the former congressman said in a faxed statement to the press.

He pointed out that several weeks back, he was asked by Namfrel chairman Jose Concepcion if his name could be submitted to the President, who was to appoint a new Comelec chief.

"As I was not looking for a job and chairing the Comelec was the farthest thing from my mind, I was hesitant to give my consent. But it was impressed upon me that my experience as the chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms would be put to good use not only in the effort to ensure clean and honest elections but also modernize our antiquated and fraud-prone electoral system," Tanjuatco said.

The Comelec has been without a chairman since Harriet Demetriou’s term ended early this month. Following the recommendation of Tanjuatco, a tug-of-war has ensued for the post, which needs to be filled up soon with the elections just three months away.

Tanjuatco said personal preferences must give way to the successful holding of elections.

"Even as I express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for their confidence in me, I have to take this step for a greater interest," he said.