Ping, Kiko joining Cabinet

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  â€“ Outgoing Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Panfilo Lacson would definitely be joining the executive department as soon as their terms in the Senate expire this June, President Aquino disclosed yesterday.

Aquino did not give details, except to say that Pangilinan, leader of the ruling Liberal Party, has been consulting with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala for “quite some time” now for the post that he will be assuming.

“Kiko, in particular, has several aspects of the agricultural sector that he wants to concentrate on. He has already discussed his ideas with Secretary Alcala and we will try to maximize his involvement to the benefit of the agricultural sector,” he said.

“I’m sure that Secretary Alcala will want his inputs and his efforts, especially since agriculture is one of our priorities and there are so many things that have to be done, hopefully, in the quickest possible time,” Aquino added.

Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, will have a more general role.

“Initially, it will be like a fireman putting out fires. So he will not have a specific agency, for instance, that he’ll report to. But when there is a particular group that needs my undivided attention, he will be the one providing that undivided attention. But we still have to work on details,” Aquino told Palace reporters here.

Aquino said Lacson would not be given any post that is not commensurate with his abilities.

Aquino made the revelation as he arrived here for a series of engagements which included addressing participants to the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Events/ Exhibits Conference (MICECON) 2013 at the SMX convention center at the SM Lanang Premiere Mall.

The President also joined the Team PNoy senatorial candidates as they barnstormed key areas in Southern Mindanao.

Lacson, for his part, said he has accepted the offer of the President “in principle,” though he did not reveal the offer, which he described as “an exciting position, very interesting.”

He said he wanted to discuss it first with the President.

“Of course, I want to know the details first. How much authority will be granted... Because when I accept a position I want to perform. You see, if it’s a paper position... you’re bound to fail,” he said. With Edith Regalado, Christina Mendez