Non-performing Cabinet men to go - Palace

Several Cabinet members are expected to go in the impending reorganization of President Arroyo’s official family.

Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr. said yesterday a number of Cabinet members have failed to meet the targets set for them by President Arroyo when she took over from ousted President Joseph Estrada in January last year.

"I don’t want to name names because it would be unfair to them. They may have valid reasons for failing to meet their goals," Afable said.

He said the Cabinet members’ failure was gleaned from the performance reports they have submitted and which were compared against targets.

Afable said the evaluation of the reports was done by the Presidential Management Staff, which he heads, and the Cabinet secretariat.

The evaluation results and the Cabinet members’ reports have been submitted to the President, he added.

Afable hinted that presidential advisers and heads of other agencies could also be affected by the impending reorganization.

Performance reports are now being sought from these officials, he said.

Speculations about a Cabinet revamp were fueled by the irrevocable resignation last week of Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez.

Alvarez quit his post because of what he described as the "insidious and malicious smear campaign" against him.

Malacañang announced that Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza would replace him.

As for Heherson Alvarez, Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo has said the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will remain in the Cabinet.

"Sonny Alvarez need not resign. We have assurances from leaders of the Senate and the House that he will be confirmed," Romulo said.

Alvarez would have been confirmed before Congress adjourned sine die last week had it not been for the ugly power play in the Senate.

As for Mendoza, Afable said the new transportation and communications secretary would most likely assumed his post next month.

That is also when his deputy, Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., will take over the PNP leadership, he said.

He said Ebdane, who is head of an anti-kidnapping task force, is expected to remain active in the efforts to neutralize kidnap-for-ransom syndicates because of these gangs’ renewed activities.

"Our reports indicate that these syndicates have shifted their operations to Central Luzon," he added.

Commenting on the impending Cabinet revamp, Rep. Willie Buyson Villarama (Aksyon Demokratiko, Bulacan) said the President should recruit the best and the brightest among her supporters.

"She should not recruit those loyal to the ousted president (referring to Joseph Estrada). She cannot sleep or even consort with the enemy," said Villarama, who was Mrs. Arroyo’s chief of staff when she was vice president.

He also urged her to stop accommodating, in terms of government appointments, the key sectors that participated in EDSA II.

For his part, opposition Rep. Abraham Mitra (LDP, Palawan) said Mrs. Arroyo "should look beyond Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo in her search for Cabinet replacement."

"Her present field of choice is apparently limited to these two military camps," he said.