Solons urge ’04 aspirants to resign from Cabinet

Two congressmen urged Cabinet members and other officials planning to run in the 2004 elections to now quit their posts.

"They should resign this early because they will not be effective as alter egos of the President and as implementors of government programs and projects if they are at the same time campaigning," said Rep. Prospero Nograles (Lakas, Davao City).

He said people will give political color to everything a Cabinet member who is eyeing an elective post in 2004 does.

"These officials should give way to other qualified appointees who have no political plans," he said.

Nograles stressed that the resignation of these officials would also help President Arroyo in organizing a new team who could help her run the government better.

For his part, opposition Rep. Gilbert Remulla (LDP, Cavite) said officials "casting a moist eye on 2004" should quit so they won’t be able to use their office and public funds to boost their political ambition.

"If they don’t resign, they can charge everything to poor Juan dela Cruz, from travel to the provinces to campaign materials. That would be grossly unfair to taxpayers," he said.

There have been reports that Mrs. Arroyo has given Cabinet members who are planning to seek Senate seats to start campaigning and test their popularity.

However, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye denied the reports.

There are several Cabinet members who are reportedly planning to run for the Senate. These include Trade Secretary Mar Roxas, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, Environment Secretary Heherson Alvarez, and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina.

Alvarez and Lina are former senators, while Roxas and Perez are former congressmen. Alvarez also served for one term as a House member.

While Nograles wants these Cabinet officials to quit partly to allow the President to form a new team, another Lakas congressman, Rodolfo Albano of Isabela, urged his colleagues to "leave the President alone."

"It’s her choice whether to revamp the Cabinet or who to appoint there. We should not meddle with her," Albano said.

He said Congress, through the Commission on Appointments, will have the chance to pass upon the qualifications of Cabinet members when they go through the confirmation process.

Albano is one of 12 congressmen representing the House in the 25-member commission.