Party-list reps to get CHR, Tesda posts

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has virtually confirmed the appointment of former Akbayan Rep. Loretta “Etta” Rosales as Human Rights chief.

“Malamang (most likely),” the President told reporters Monday night when asked to confirm the appointment.

Mr. Aquino also confirmed that Citizens Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva would be the director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Villanueva said he would prioritize rebuilding the image of TESDA. “My priority is the image of TESDA and how we would be able to create new frontiers in training mid-level jobs and provide more training for our overseas Filipino workers,” he said.

Juan Andres Bautista, dean of Far Eastern University law school and chief executive officer of multinational firm Kuok Group, on the other hand, is being considered as undersecretary of either the Department of Justice or Department of Tourism, or Solicitor General.

Mr. Aquino said he would announce soon the new heads of the state-run insurer Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Mr. Aquino said he has not offered any new Cabinet positions to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“But I was told he (Binay) was interested (in a position),” he said.

The President offered Binay the MMDA portfolio and that of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the Truth Commission and the Department of Agriculture (DA) but he refused all of them because he reportedly wanted the Interior and Local Government portfolio.

“He (Binay) was reconsidering. Pero pakibilisan lang niya (But he should decide fast). My offers are becoming limited. I really need people. Flooding is also an MMDA responsibility, right?” Mr. Aquino said.

While building his Cabinet, the President is intent on invalidating 80 percent of around 400 midnight appointments made by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her term as president.                                                              Former Civil Service Commission (CSC) chair Karina David, who is part of Aquino’s Cabinet search committee, said many of the appointments could be invalidated on two grounds: That the appointees did not assume office within a month upon the signing of their appointment papers; and that they were appointed during the ban on appointments.

“We will just replace them and let them file cases for reinstatement,” she said. – With Danny Dangcalan, Paolo Romero