Cabinet exodus continues

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Up to four more Cabinet members are expected to hand in their resignations preparatory to running for various elective posts in the May 2004 national elections, a Malacañang official said yesterday.

Political Affairs Secretary Gabriel Claudio said in an interview over dxRC Super Radyo in this city that the resignations of two to four Cabinet officials are part of the administration’s preparations for next year’s polls.

However, Claudio did not identify the Cabinet members who intend to leave their posts this month.

"Without identifying them, we expect anywhere from two to four (Cabinet members)" to resign, he said.

These impending Cabinet resignations come in the wake of Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II’s resignation earlier this week. Roxas is running for senator under the banner of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.

Claudio said the expected Cabinet resignations will not affect the government’s operations.

Meanwhile, Claudio said the administration party is about to complete its senatorial ticket. The Lakas-CMD is also considering who will make a good running mate for President Arroyo, who will seek a full six-year term in 2004.

He said the Lakas-CMD senatorial slate is "almost complete" and its completion "before the end of the year" is "almost certain."

Claudio said the administration party has a long list of possible senatorial bets that needs to be "pruned" before any announcements can be made.

He reiterated the names of Senators Noli de Castro, Robert Barbers, Juan Flavier, Manuel Villar, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando are on the list of possible vice presidential candidates for the administration party.

Claudio said there are still certain trends and indicators that the party must observe before final decisions are made as to who will be the President’s running mate and who will comprise the Lakas-CMD senatorial ticket.

He also said there is a search committee and an advisory council within the ruling party that will provide the mechanisms with which the President will consult with her party-mates, allies and sectoral leaders.

In a related development, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon was endorsed as a possible running mate of the President by sectors in Central Visayas.

In a press statement, Bohol Association of Hotels president Arthur Arboladura said "political and tourism sectors in (the) Central Visayas have already asked President Arroyo to draft Gordon as her running mate in next year’s elections."

This endorsement was contained in a resolution signed by various sectors in Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. Copies of the resolution were sent to the President and other leaders of the ruling party.

Gordon’s supporters cited his track record as Olongapo City mayor, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and governor of the Philippine Red Cross.

They said Gordon was an "effective mayor of Olongapo who got rid of crime and brought peace and order to the city." They also credited him with bringing in investments and creating "thousands of jobs" in Subic as SBMA chief.

As tourism secretary, the statement said, Gordon "made the country competitive and attractive to tourists and visitors and created jobs as well."

"Legislation Over Politics’

Meanwhile, at the House of Representatives, administration congressmen said priority should be given to productive and urgent legislation over politics.

Reps. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan, Robert "Ace" Barbers of Surigao del Norte, Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City and Exequiel Javier of Antique appealed to members of the Senate and the House to put national interest above partisan politics and "prove that the 12th Congress has effectively discharged its legislative duty (over) the past three years."

In a joint statement released to media yesterday, Alvarado, Barbers, Puentevella and Javier warned of a possible financial crisis "if Congress continues to drag its feet on urgent measures to boost government revenues."

They echoed the warning issued recently by resigned finance secretary Jose Isidro Camacho of an impending financial crisis due to excessive politicking.

They said issues like the second impeachment case against Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., the failed July 27 mutiny, the Senate inquiry into the Jose Pidal controversy, political intramurals and the selection of candidates for the 2004 national elections have deflected lawmakers’ focus on urgent legislation.

Despite these distractions, they said the House has managed to accomplish its immediate tasks of passing the 2004 national budget on second reading and approve 600 bills, which are now pending before the Senate.

"We should focus on economic legislation that would support the programs and laws to support our small and medium enterprises (SMEs), rather than engaging in politics," Alvarado said.

"We enjoin everyone to put politics behind (them) and focus instead on important economic measures that will spur development and prosperity, which shall be the legacy of the 12th Congress," Barbers said.

For his part, Puentevella said the Senate has yet to act on the 600 bills referred to it by the House, a matter that he finds frustrating "as a neophyte lawmaker."

Among the bills pending before the Senate is the proposed Quarantine Act of 2003 seeking to replace the Quarantine Act of 1946, meant to boost government action against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Another measure still awaiting Senate approval is the bill seeking to regulate and establish lending companies.

Javier said congressional action is needed on several economic measures, like the proposed restoration of tax exemption for offshore currency deposits.

He also expressed hope that the 2004 General Appropriations Bill will be passed before Congress adjourns session next week.