'Leave it to Noy to choose next DOT chief'

MANILA, Philippines - Shut up.

Malacañang gave this advise to personalities who have expressed willingness to take over the position to be left vacant by outgoing Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Alberto Lim on Aug. 31.

“It’s up to the President to choose (who will succeed Lim). We leave it to the people (prospective candidates) to have the prudence to let the President decide,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

“I think there is no need to volunteer themselves. Hayaan na lang natin ang Pangulo (leave the President alone),” he told Palace reporters in a briefing, apparently in reference to some of Aquino’s allies like former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros who has offered to take any post, once offered.

“President Aquino didn’t offer tourism chief post but any cabinet post is welcome,” the defeated senatorial candidate of the Liberal Party in the May 2010 polls recently posted on Facebook, a popular social networking site.

Also yesterday, Lacierda shot down the proposal of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name for the President to appoint former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as Lim’s replacement.

“We don’t want to raise the hopes of the former senator, but he’s not being considered,” he clarified.

Nonetheless, Zubiri, a former colleague of Aquino in the House of Representatives before they were elected to the Senate in 2007, got support from Orlando Sacay, former agriculture undersecretary and chairman of the Boracay Foundation Inc.

Hontiveros ran under the Liberal Party, but lost. She, along with several other allies, have been waiting for possible appointment to government posts following the lapse of the one-year ban for losing candidates.

The most notable among them to land a government post was Aquino’s former running-mate Mar Roxas, who lost to Vice President Jejomar Binay in the 2010 polls but was designated Transportation and Communications chief, replacing Jose de Jesus.

The not-so-lucky LP ally was former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta, who also lost in the 2010 senatorial race, and who was not appointed environment secretary but was instead given a lesser task of coordinating with agencies that involved the environment.

But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said all the names that are being floated as Lim’s replacement are “speculations” since only Aquino knows who he will appoint as the next DOT secretary.

Among the names that have since been mentioned are those of advertising executive Ramon Jimenez, defeated LP senatorial bet and former Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, and talent manager and TV host Boy Abunda, a columnist of The STAR.

Last May, the President had seriously considered Abunda to serve in government.

Aquino had said Abunda’s communication skills and marketing expertise could be used in tourism and foreign affairs.

He is a bestfriend of Aquino’s youngest sister Kris, a popular TV talk show host.

Also in May, rumors circulated that Biazon was eyeing the tourism department.

Jimenez, on the other hand, was part of Aquino’s election campaign in 2010.