PR players eyeing gov’t posts

Professional public relations (PR) practitioners were among the latest to join the fray jockeying for various Cabinet posts following President Arroyo’s disclosure that she would like to appoint a presidential adviser on communications.

Big-name PR professionals like Reuben Lim and Bubut Quicho were among the PR men whose names are on the list of professional communications specialists from which the President will select her newest advisor, whose task will be to turn her existing communications group into a "cohesive" team.

Lim figured prominently as the "crisis PR" man who handled First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s publicity during the Jose Pidal controversy. Quicho, on the other hand, is one of the private sector members of the President’s communications group. He also used to work for the PR promotions of the Palace during the administration of former President Fidel Ramos.

Earlier, the names of resigned ABS-CBN vice president for public affairs and former press secretary Ricardo Puno, Presidential Management Staff head Silvestre Afable and presidential chief of staff Rigoberto Tiglao were also on the list of candidates for the post of presidential adviser on communications. — Marichu Villanueva